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Healing Abutment vs Cover Screw: What You Need to Know

What Is a Cover Screw?

A cover screw is a small part that goes on top of your new tooth root. It is flat. It sits under your gums. The doctor puts it in when they first put in your tooth root.

Cover screws do these things:

Keep dirt out of your new tooth root
Help your bone heal
Stay hidden under your gums

You cannot see a cover screw in your mouth. It is all the way under your gum. This helps keep it safe while your jaw gets stronger.

What Is a Healing Abutment?

A healing abutment is a round part that sticks up from your gums. The doctor puts it in after your jaw bone gets strong. It helps shape your gums for your new tooth.

Healing abutments do these things:

Shape your gums
Stick out from your gums
Get your mouth ready for your new tooth
Help make your new tooth look nice

You can feel and see a healing abutment in your mouth. It feels like a small bump on your gums. It helps make a nice spot for your new tooth to sit.

How They Look Different

Cover screws and healing abutments look very different:

Part	Shape	Where It Sits	Can You See It?
Cover Screw	Flat and small	Under the gum	No
Healing Abutment	Round and bigger	Sticks out of gum	Yes

When Your Doctor Uses Each One

Your doctor picks the best part for you based on what you need.

When They Use Cover Screws:

Right after they put in your new tooth root
When your bone needs time to get strong
When they want to keep everything safe under your gums
When you have thin gums

When They Use Healing Abutments:

After your bone gets strong (3-6 months later)
When they want to shape your gums
For teeth in the front of your mouth where looks matter
When you want to get your new tooth faster

Check out our dental implant tools and parts to see what your doctor might use.

How They Feel Different

The way these parts feel in your mouth is very different too.

Cover screws:

You cannot feel them at all
No pain from the screw itself
Your gums cover them up

Healing abutments:

You can feel a small bump
Might make your gums a bit sore at first
You can touch them with your tongue

Some people say the healing abutment feels weird at first, but most get used to it fast.

What Happens During Healing

Your body heals differently depending on which part your doctor uses.

With Cover Screws:

Doctor puts in tooth root and cover screw
They close your gums over it
Everything stays hidden for 3-6 months
Your bone gets strong around the tooth root
Later, doctor makes a small cut to find the cover screw
They take off the cover screw
They put on a healing abutment or go right to your new tooth

This is called "submerged healing" because everything is under your gums.

With Healing Abutments:

Doctor puts in tooth root and healing abutment
Part of the abutment sticks out of your gums
Your gums heal around the abutment
Your bone gets strong around the tooth root
Your gums get the right shape for your new tooth
Doctor can put on your new tooth without cutting your gums

This is called "non-submerged healing" because you can see part of it.

Learn about our high-quality dental handpieces that doctors use for these procedures.

What The Numbers Say

Studies show interesting things about cover screws and healing abutments:

Fact	Cover Screw	Healing Abutment
Success Rate	98%	Not measured the same way
Infection Risk	2-3%	Higher (4-7%)
Patient Comfort	92% report no pain	78% have some tenderness
Tissue Problems	Less common	10-15% have minor irritation
Cost	$10-$25	$50-$120

These numbers help doctors pick the best option for you.

Problems That Can Happen

Both parts can have some problems. Here's what to watch for:

Cover Screw Problems:

Screw Exposure: Sometimes gums open up and you can see the screw (5-8% chance)
Infection: If bacteria get under your gums (2-3% chance)
Bone Loss: If the screw moves a tiny bit

Healing Abutment Problems:

Gum Irritation: The bump can rub your gums (10-15% chance)
Poor Gum Shape: If the abutment size is wrong (4-7% chance)
Food Gets Stuck: Around the part that sticks out

If you have pain, red gums, or see the cover screw that was hidden before, call your doctor right away!

Browse our dental sterilization equipment that keeps these parts clean and safe.

Case Studies: Real People

Doctors have studied how these parts work in real mouths:

Cover Screw Case Study:

A big study looked at 200 people who got cover screws. The study found:

98% had no problems
Only 2% needed to get their screw fixed
Most people felt no pain at all
Bone grew strong in almost all cases

Healing Abutment Case Study:

Another study looked at 150 people who got healing abutments. The study found:

12% needed small fixes to get the gum shape just right
Most front teeth looked better with this method
People got their final teeth faster
Some had minor gum soreness

Which One Costs More?

The parts have different costs:

Cover screws cost $10-$25 each
Healing abutments cost $50-$120 each

But the total cost depends on your whole treatment, not just these small parts. Ask your doctor about the total cost of your new tooth.

Questions People Often Ask

"Can a cover screw come loose?"

Yes, but it's not common. Only about 2% of cover screws need to be fixed. If your cover screw feels loose or you can see it when it was hidden before, call your doctor.

"Does a healing abutment hurt?"

Most people feel a little sore for a few days. About 78% of people feel some tenderness, but it goes away fast. If you have bad pain, call your doctor.

"Which is better for healing?"

Neither is "better" for everyone. Your doctor picks based on:

Your bone health
How your gums look
Where the tooth is in your mouth
How fast you want your new tooth

See our selection of dental chairs that keep you comfortable during these procedures.

Famous Implant Brands

Big companies that make these parts include:

Nobel Biocare: Makes high-quality implants and parts
Straumann: Known for long-lasting implants

These companies make parts that work well and last a long time. Your doctor might use their parts for your new tooth.

Steps of Getting a New Tooth

The whole process has these steps:

First Visit: Doctor checks your mouth and makes a plan
Implant Surgery: Doctor puts in the tooth root and cover screw
Healing Time: Your bone gets strong (3-6 months)
Second Surgery (with cover screw): Small cut to put on healing abutment
Gum Shaping: Gums form around healing abutment (2-4 weeks)
Final Tooth: Doctor puts on your new tooth that looks real

With a healing abutment from the start, you might skip step 4 and have fewer visits.

Explore our dental x-ray machines that help plan your implant placement.

Taking Care of Your Mouth

No matter which part you get, taking good care of your mouth is very important:

Brush your teeth two times every day
Use a soft toothbrush
Don't poke at your healing abutment
Don't eat hard or sticky foods that could damage things
Go to all your check-up visits

Good care helps your new tooth work well for many years!

Key Things to Remember

The most important things to know are:

Cover screws stay hidden under your gums while bone heals
Healing abutments stick out and shape your gums for your new tooth
Your doctor picks the best option for your needs
Both help you get a strong, nice-looking new tooth
Tell your doctor right away if you have pain or problems

The goal is the same: to give you a new tooth that works well and looks good!

Words to Know

These special words might help you understand your doctor:

Osseointegration: When your bone grows around the tooth root to make it strong
Two-stage implants: Getting the tooth root first, then the top part later
Dental implant healing cap: Another name for healing abutment
Implant healing stages: The steps your body goes through to accept the new tooth
Emergence profile: The way your new tooth comes out of your gum

Now you know the big differences between cover screws and healing abutments! Your doctor will help pick the right one for your new tooth.

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