Screwless Dental Implants

A traditional implant is a fixture post surgically placed in the bone; then the abutment part is retained to the fixture; finally, a perfectly milled dental crown with a screw-hole is screwed into the abutment and the fixture to fix the crown in its place, with the screw head appearing through the crown. 

Before getting a screw-retained or screwless dental implant for replacing your missing teeth, you should know all the differences and the recommended cases for each.

What are screwless dental implants? 

A screwless dental implant is a more modern implant technology, in which the implant post and the abutment are fixed together through a screw; then the abutment is capped, and a dental crown is cemented to it. 

It’s like the standard dental implant: an implant fixture is surgically placed in the jawbone for bone osseointegration. The key difference lies in the connection mechanism between the implant and the final crown restoration.

Instead of screwing the crown into the fixture and the abutment, dentists benefit from a special engineering concept called a locking taper. In this technique, the implant’s abutment and the crown are connected through a physical friction fit, resulting in a tight seal and creating a friction-fit implant. 

How do screwless dental implants work? 

Screwless dental implants work through different engineering mechanisms:

Friction-lock / Taper-lock dental implant systems

Pioneered by systems like Bicon, Kontact (Biotech Dental), and SIC-Invent, these implants completely eliminate internal screws by utilizing an ultra-precise, 1.5-degree engineering slope known as a true Morse taper. When the dentist taps the titanium abutment into the implant post, the microscopic roughness of the metal surfaces “jams” together to create a powerful, self-locking mechanical wedge. This intense frictional pressure creates a “cold-welding” effect, which creates an absolute hermetic bacterial seal that eliminates the microscopic gaps common in screw systems, according to clinical studies and literature, drastically reducing the risk of fluid leakage and bone-destroying peri-implantitis.

Cement-retained restoration

It’s a dental implant system that is designed to get rid of the screw usage in only fixing the coronal part. This system is the same as the traditional screw-retained dental implants, except the abutment is the only part which screwed to the implant fixture; then a full-coverage zirconia crown is cemented to the abutment, the same process as a dental crown placement. 

It is considered a false screwless dental implant system as the final crown restoration is milled without a hole, so it has more esthetic appearance than the screw-retained dental implant.

One-piece dental implant 

Monoblock approach where the fixture (implant post) and the abutment are manufactured as one solid implant piece made of titanium or zirconia.

The no-screws, no-gaps concept in this system eliminates the micro-gap typically found in traditional two-piece systems, and takes over the main disadvantage of screw-retained types, which is screw loosening. One-piece dental implants are also perfect for same-day implant placement, though implantologists pay additional care as it requires meticulous surgical placement, as it can’t be modified later.

Screwless implants advantages 

Screwless dental implants are not replacing traditional screw-retained dental implants; instead, they are dental implant systems that are recommended for certain cases with specific needs, and help overcome some risks of the traditional ones. These are some benefits of screwless dental implants: 

• Perfect for replacing front teeth with the free-screw-hole crowns
  The final ceramic crowns for traditional implants are manufactured with holes inside the crown for the screw, which is filled later with composite filling, which needs maintenance over time.
  On the other hand, Screwless implants provide a completely smooth, uninterrupted tooth surface, making them the absolute gold standard for a natural look in the front smile zone. They are perfect implants for front teeth.
• Ideal for narrow spaces in the jaw
  If a patient suffers from crooked teeth and wants to replace these teeth in a crooked jaw, then a screwless taper-lock dental implant system is the one for tight spaces without the additional internal spaces for screw threads. The components can be smaller, making them highly versatile for patients with limited bone volume or narrow gaps between teeth.
• No Loosing screws
  The main disadvantages of screw-retained implants is the chance of screw loosening, whether the screw between the crown and the abutment, or the screw between the abutment and the implant post.
• Superior Bacterial Seal
  The ultra-precise Morse taper friction fit implant systems create an airtight, hermetic seal that leaves zero micro-gaps. This prevents bacteria from breeding inside the connection, significantly reducing the risk of tissue inflammation and bone loss (peri-implantitis).
• 360-Degree Universal Positioning
  In screwless systems (like Bicon), the solid titanium abutment is a perfectly round cone. Because it doesn’t have to align with internal screw threads or anti-rotational geometric shapes (like hexes), the dentist can rotate the abutment a full 360 degrees to achieve the absolute perfect angle for the crown.

Disadvantages of screwless implants 

There are some disadvantages that you should be aware of: 

• Need Meticulous and sensitive placement technique
  Seating the abutment relies on a precise, controlled tapping force; if the alignment is slightly off during placement, the mechanical friction lock can fail.
• Patient Discomfort
  The physical “tapping” or malleting force required to seat and lock the friction components together can be jarring and uncomfortable for patients awake under local anesthesia.
• Difficult Retrieval
  Because the components effectively mimic a single piece of metal under intense friction, retrieving or modifying the abutment later (if the crown needs to be changed or repaired) is far more challenging and complex than simply unscrewing a traditional screw-retained implant.
• Not suitable for patient’s need full mouth reconstructions with dental implants
  Screwless friction-fit systems are exceptional for single-tooth replacement, but they are incredibly difficult to align when building a multi-unit bridge or full-mouth implants.
• Excess cement on the gumline for cement-retained
  When bonding a crown onto a screwless abutment, any microscopic excess cement that squeezes out beneath the gumline is incredibly difficult for the dentist to see or clean. Leftover cement hurts the tissue, quickly triggering severe inflammation and accelerated bone loss (cement-induced peri-implantitis).

Screwless dental implants cost

Screwless dental implants are a high-end technology that requires precision manufacturing combined with the expertise of a highly trained specialist. These technique-sensitive steps are reflected in the final cost. 

While Screwless dental implants’ cost in the UK can easily reach 4000$ or more for a single tooth. You can get the same service in Turkey at more affordable prices. Clinics in Turkey -such as Suave Dental Clinic- typically provide all-inclusive packages. These packages are designed to cover all your trip details; not just your advanced dental treatment, but also your VIP transportation and luxury accommodation. 

Whether you need a traditional or a screwless implant, we offer both options in premium quality. Our highly trained dentists are dedicated to providing the best choice tailored to your specific case. Don’t wait; contact us today and get a better smile and life.