Single-tooth restorations with a screw-retained, combined crown-and-abutment prosthesis

Screw retention for single-tooth restorations on dental implants is often advantageous, as it facilitates crown removal should an adverse event occur, or if modifications to the prosthesis design are anticipated. Prosthetic alterations can be problematic, however, if the screw access hole is not optimally placed to allow clinical access without compromising function or aesthetics. Contemporary nanocomposite materials are durable enough to function as definitive prostheses in the posterior region, and they may rival porcelain aesthetics intraorally to enable placement in the anterior region. This article presents a technique for fabricating an aesthetic, single-tooth restoration using nanocomposite materials and precontoured abutments to address potential concerns related to screw retention.