• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.125-135
• /
• 2009

Statement of problem: Loosening or fracture of the abutment screw is one of the common problems related to the dental implant. Generally, in order to make the screw joint stable, the preload generated by tightening torque needs to be increased within the elastic limit of the screw. However, additional tensile forces can produce the plastic deformation of abutment screw when functional loads are superimposed on preload stresses, and they can elicit loosening or fracture of the abutment screw. Therefore, it is necessary to find the optimum tightening torque that maximizes a fatigue life and simultaneously offer a reasonable degree of protection against loosening. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present the influence of tightening torque on the implant-abutment screw joint stability with the 3 dimensional finite element analysis. Material and methods: In this study, the finite element model of the implant system with external butt joint connection was designed and verified by comparison with additional theoretical and experimental results. Four different amount of tightening torques(10, 20, 30 and 40 Ncm) and the external loading(250 N, $30^{\circ}$) were applied to the model, and the equivalent stress distributions and the gap distances were calculated according to each tightening torque and the result was analyzed. Results: Within the limitation of this study, the following results were drawn; 1) There was the proportional relation between the tightening torque and the preload. 2) In case of applying only the tightening torque, the maximum stress was found at the screw neck. 3) The maximum stress was also shown at the screw neck under the external loading condition. However in case of applying 10 Ncm tightening torque, it was found at the undersurface of the screw head. 4) The joint opening was observed under the external loading in case of applying 10 Ncm and 20 Ncm of tightening torque. 5) When the tightening torque was applied at 40 Ncm, under the external loading the maximum stress exceeded the allowable stress value of the titanium alloy. Conclusion: Implant abutment screw must have a proper tightening torque that will be able to maintain joint stability of fixture and abutment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.396-408
• /
• 2008

Statement of problem: Within the elastic limit of the screw, the greater the preload, the tighter and more secure the screw joint. However, additional tensile forces can incur plastic deformation of the abutment screw when functional loads are superimposed on preload stresses, and they can elicit the loosening or fracture of the abutment screw. Therefore, it is necessary to find the optimum preload that will maximize fatigue life and simultaneously offer a reasonable degree of protection against loosening. Another critical factor in addition to the applied torque which can affect the amount of preload is the joint connection type between implant and abutment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of tightening torque on the implant-abutment screw joint stability. Material and methods: Respectively, three different amount of tightening torque (20, 30, and 40 Ncm) were applied to implant systems with three different joint connections, one external butt joint and two internal cones. The initial removal torque value and the postload (cyclic loading up to 100,000 cycles) removal torque value of the abutment screw were measured with digital torque gauge. Then rate of the initial and the postload removal torque loss were calculated for the comparison of the effect of tightening torques and joint connection types between implant and abutment on the joint stability. Results and conclusion: 1. Increase in tightening torque value resulted in significant increase in initial and postload removal torque value in all implant systems (P < .05). 2. Initial removal torque loss rates in SS II system were not significantly different when three different tightening torque values were applied (P > .05), however GS II and US II systems exhibited significantly lower loss rates with 40 Ncm torque value than with 20 Ncm (P < .05). 3. In all implant systems, postload removal torque loss rates were lowest when the torque value of 30 Ncm was applied (P < .05). 4. Postload removal torque loss rates tended to increase in order of SS II, GS II and US II system. 5. There was no correlation between initial removal torque value and postload removal torque loss rate (P > .05).

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.95-103
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the axial displacement of the hexagonal and conical abutment in internal conical connection implant after screw tightening and cyclic loading. Materials and Methods: Internal conical connection implants were divided into two groups (n = 10): group HEX, hexagonal abutment; and group CON, conical 2-piece abutments. The axial displacement and removal torque values were measured after 30 Ncm torque tightening and 250N loading test of 100,000 cycles. The Student t test with 5% significance level was used to evaluate the data. Results: HEX group demonstrated significantly higher axial displacement values after 30 Ncm tightening in comparison to the CON group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in axial displacement after cyclic loading (P = 0.052). Removal torque loss before and after the cyclic loading both revealed no significant difference between groups (P = 0.057 and P = 0.138). Removal torque value decreased after cyclic loading in both groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, both abutment with or without hexagon index presented similar biomechanical performance except HEX group demonstrated significantly more axial displacement after applying tightening torque.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.132-142
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this finite element analysis study is to introduce the novel Lock screw system and analyze its mechanical property to see if it can prevent abutment screw loosening. Materials and Methods: The Lock screw is a component tightened on the inside of the implant abutment which applies compressive force to the abutment screw head. To investigate the effect, modeling was done using CAD program and it was analyzed by finite element analysis under various load conditions. First, the preload was measured according to the tightening torque of the abutment screw then it was compared with the theoretical value to verify the analytical model. The validated analytical model was then divided into those with no external load and those with 178 N, and the tightening torque of the lock screw was changed to 10, 20, 30 Ncm respectively to examine the property of stress distribution on the implant components. Results: Using Lock screw under various loading conditions did not produce equivalent stresses beyond the yield strength of the implant components. In addition, the axial load was increased at the abutment-abutment screw interface. Conclusion: The use of Lock screw does not exert excessive stress on the implant components and may increase the frictional force between the abutment-abutment screw interface, thus it is considered to prevent loosening of the abutment screw.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.137-147
• /
• 2008

Statement of problem: Dental implant procedure has been recognized as a very effective treatment to rehabilitate fully or partially edentulous patients. However, mechanical failures such as screw loosening, screw fracture have been still reported frequently. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of tungsten carbide/carbon coating, which has superior hardness and frictional wear resistance, on implant-abutment screw loosening of three different joint connections after one million cyclic loading. Material and methods: The values of detorque before and after loading were measured in three different joint connections (Osstem Implant, Korea), one external butt joint, US II implant system and two internal cones, SS II and GS II system. The values of detorque before loading was analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and two-way ANOVA and Scheffe' test were performed for the value of detorque after loading. Results: 1. The values of initial detorque of tungsten carbide/carbon coated Ti alloy screw were smaller those of Ti alloy screw (P<.01), and there were no differences among implant systems in each screw (P>.05). 2. In comparison of loss rate of detorque value after cyclic loading, US II system was greater than SS II and GS II system but there was no difference between SS II and GS II system (P<.01). 3. Loss rates of detorque value after cyclic loading decreased consistently at tungsten carbide/carbon coated Ti alloy screw comparing with Ti alloy screw in all implant systems (P<.01), and there were no differences among three systems in reduction of loss rates by using tungsten carbide/carbon coated Ti alloy screw (P>.05). Conclusion: Tungsten carbide/carbon coating to increase preload with reduction of friction resistance was a effective way to decrease screw loosening by functional loading.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.389-403
• /
• 2010

Titanium and gold-alloy abutments have been used for a long-time in the clinical situations, but the use of zirconia abutments also increased. This study was designed to compare and evaluate the microgap differences according to types of abutment and dynamic loading. Titanium abutment, zirconia abutment and gold-alloy abutment (UCLA plastic) were connected into titanium implants of external hexagonal structure US II ${\phi}$ $3.75{\times}11.5$ mm (Osstem Co., Seoul, Korea) with the tightening torque of 30 Ncm. A sine type dynamic loading of 25-250 N and $30^{\circ}$ inclination from long axis was applied for $10^5$ times. Using the SEM both before and after the loadings, implant-abutment interfaces were analyzed on the labial, palatal, mesial and distal surface. The microgaps before and after the loading were compared, no statistically significant difference was observed caused by the dynamic loading on the labial, palatal, mesial or distal surface. Statistically significant difference was observed between UCLA and titanium group and between UCLA and zirconia group on both before and after the loading(p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between titanium and zirconia group. Loadings for $10^5$ times did not show significant effect to the microgaps between implants and abutments.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.206-214
• /
• 2014

This study is to evaluate how different bearing surface angles of abutment screw affect the mechanical stability of the joint in the conical seal design implant system. Materials and Methods: Internal connection type regular implants, two-piece cemented type abutments and tungsten carbide/carbon-coated titanium alloy abutment screws were selected. Titanium alloy screws with conical ($45^{\circ}$) and flat ($90^{\circ}$) head designs which fit on to abutment were fabricated. The abutments were tightened to implants with 30 Ncm by digital torque gauge. The loading was applied once to the central axis of abutment. The mean axial displacement was measured using micrometer before and after the tightening and loading (n = 5). The abutment was tightened to implants with 30 Ncm and T-shape stainless steel crown was cemented. Then the change in the amount of reverse-torque was measured after the repeated loading to the central axis, and the place 5 mm away from the central axis. Compressive bending and fatigue strength were measured at the place 5 mm away from the central axis (n = 5). Results: Both groups showed the largest axial displacement when abutment screw tightening and total displacement was greater in the flat head group compared to conical head group (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in reverse torque value, compressive bending and fatigue strength (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the abutment screw head design had no effect on two groups regarding the joint stability, however the conical head design affected the settlement of abutment resulting in the reduced total displacement.