• 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.55 no.2
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate screw removal torque of the two-piece zirconia abutment with the novel titanium component compared to the conventional one-piece titanium abutment in the internal connection implant before and after dynamic cyclic loading. Materials and methods: Two types of the abutment assemblies with internal connection were prepared and divided into the groups; titanium abutment-titanium abutment screw assemblies as control, and zirconia abutment-titanium socket-titanium abutment screw assemblies as experimental group. A total of 12 abutments and implants were used of six assemblies each group. Each assembly was tightened to 30 Ncm. A cyclic load of 300 N at an angle of 30 degrees in reference to the loading axis was applied until one million cycles or failure. The removal torque values (RTVs) of the abutment screws were measured with a digital torque gauge before and after cyclic loading. The RTVs of the pre load and post load were analyzed with t-test, and P-values < .05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The assemblies of both groups survived all after the dynamic cyclic loading test without screw loosening. The statistically significant differences were found between the mean RTVs before and after the cyclic loading in both groups (P < .05). The RTV differences for the control and the experimental group were $-7.25{\pm}1.50Ncm$ and $-7.33{\pm}0.93Ncm$, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that the RTV differences in both groups were not significantly different from each other (P > .05). Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, the two-piece zirconia abutment with the titanium component did not show a significant RTV difference of the abutment screw compared to the titanium abutment after dynamic cyclic loading.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fit accuracy of two zirconia and titanium abutments in internal hexagonal implants. Materials and methods: One titanium abutment and two zirconia abutments were tested in internal hexagonal implants (TSV, Zimmer). Prefabricated zirconia abutments (ZirAce, Acucera) and customized zirconia abutments milled by the Zirkonzahn system (Zirkonzahn Max, Zirkonzahn) were selected and prefabricated titanium abutments (Hex-Lock, Zimmer) were used as a control. Eight abutments per group were connected to implants with 30 Ncm torque. The marginal gaps at abutment-implant interface, the internal gaps at internal hex, vertical and horizontal gaps between screws and screw seats in abutments were measured after sectioning the embedded specimens using a scanning electron microscope. Data analysis included one-way analysis of variance and the Scheffe test (n=16, ${\alpha}=0.05$). Results: The mean marginal gap of customized zirconia abutment was higher than those of two prefabricated zirconia and titanium abutments. The internal gaps at internal hex showed no significant differences between customized and prefabricated abutments and were higher than those of prefabricated titanium abutments. The mean vertical and horizontal gaps at screw in prefabricated zirconia abutment were higher than those of prefabricated titanium abutment. In the case of customized zirconia abutment, the mean horizontal gap at screw was higher than those of both the prefabricated zirconia and the titanium abutment but the mean vertical gap was not even measureable. The screw seats were clearly formed but did not match with abutment screws in prefabricated zirconia abutments. They were not, however, precisely formed in the case of customized zirconia abutments. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the prefabricated titanium abutments showed better fit than the zirconia abutments, regardless of customized or prefabricated. Also, the customized zirconia abutments showed significantly higher marginal gaps and the fit was less accurate between screws and screw seats than the prefabricated abutments, titanium and zirconia.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.114-118
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a titanium component for the zirconia abutment in the internal connection implant system on screw loosening under thermocycling conditions. Materials and Methods: Internal connection titanium abutments and external connection zirconia abutments with titanium sockets were connected respectively to screw-shaped internal connection type titanium implants with 30 Ncm tightening. These implant-screw-abutment assemblies were divided into two groups of five specimens each; titanium abutments as control and zirconia abutments with titanium sockets as experimental group. The specimens were subjected to 2,000 thermocycles in water baths at $5^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$, with 60 seconds of immersion at each temperature. The removal torque values (RTVs) of the abutment screws of the specimen were measured before and after thermocycling. RTVs pre- and post-thermocycling were investigated in statistics. Results: There was not screw loosening identified by tactile and visual inspection in any of the specimens during or after thermocycling. The mean RTV difference for the control group and the experimental group were $-1.34{\pm}2.53Ncm$ and $-1.26{\pm}2.06Ncm$, respectively. Statistical analysis using an independent t-test revealed that no significant differences were found in the mean RTV difference of the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the titanium socket for the zirconia abutment did not show a significant effect on screw loosening under thermal stress compared to the titanium abutment in the internal connection implant.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.157-169
• /
• 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of implant abutment screw coating treatment on joint stability, investigating mechanical properties of these. For this study used $ExFeel^{(R)}$ external hexed implant system and $15mm{\times}1mm$ discs. Experimental group was $1{\mu}m$ TiN, TiCN, TiC coated abutment screws and discs. To know mechanical property, i evaluated adhesion strength, surface hardness, using disc, corrosion test using screw. The results were as follows : rotation angle of coated screws increased than that of non-coated screw because of lower friction coefficient, especially TiC coated screw group had the largest value, but removal torque decreased in all coated screws (p<0.05). Torque loss before and after fatigue test was the smallest in TiC-coated screws, and the largest in non-coated screws (p<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference between dry condition and wet condition of screws because of higher surface hardness and lower friction coefficient. From the above results, TiN, TiCN, TiC coating group had high abrasion resistance, especially TiC coated group which had low torque-consuming, high rotation angle as low friction coefficient will be considered to influence on implant abutment screw joint stability positively.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.212-217
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study was to assess clinically the incidence of abutment screw loosening of posterior implant-supported fixed prosthesis and its affecting factors. Materials and methods: 391 implant-supported crowns restored from January 2013 to January 2016 were included in this study. All restorations were fabricated with either a single crowns or a splinted crown, and cemented with temporary cement. The incidence of abutment screw loosening is investigated and gender, restoration position, opposing teeth, restoration type, abutment connection type were assessed as possible factors affecting abutment screw loosening. Results: During the observation period (2 - 5 years), abutment screw loosening was found in 29 restorations (7.4%). It took 3 to 48 months (means 19.5 months) to loose the screw, and three of these implants were fractured. Among the factors considered, there were statistically significant differences at abutment screw loosening rate between molar group (9.4%) and premolar group (2.6%) (P<.019). According to the type of opposing teeth, there were statistically significant differences between nature teeth (74.7%) and implant (25.0%), removable denture (3%) (P<.019). The other possible factors did not have a significant effect on loosening of the abutment. Conclusion: The incidence of abutment screw loosening in posterior restoration was 7.4%. Abutment screw loosening were more likely to occur in molars group than premolar group, and according to the opposing teeth, there were the greatest frequency in nature teeth than implant and removal denture. There was a statistically significant difference.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.500-510
• /
• 2008

Statement of problem: Recently researches about WC/C (Tungsten Carbide/Carbon) or TiN (Titanium Nitride) coating on abutment screws are going on. It decreases friction coefficient, resistance against corrosion and withdrawal of physical fragility when the coating is applied to the metal surfaces. It is reported that coated abutment screws improved abrasion, adaptability and detorque force. Purpose: This study is about the effects of coated abutment screws on loosening of screw and for the purpose of solving the loosening phenomenon of abutment screws which is clinical problem. Material and methods: Detorque force and surface changes are compared when 10 times of repeated closing and opening are applied to both uncoated titanium abutment screws (Group A) and coated abutment screws with WC/C (Group B) and TiN (Group C). Each group was made up of 10 abutment screws. Results: 1. Before repeated closing and opening, Somewhat rough surface with regular direction was observed in Group A. Coated granules were observed in group B and group C and overall coated layer appeared in regular and smooth form. 2. Before repeated closing and opening, The coated surface showed bigger and thicker size of coated granules in Group C than Group B. 3. After repeated closing and opening, abrasion and deformation of abutment screw surface was observed in Group A and Group B. Exfoliation phenomenon was observed in Group B. 4. Group A showed biggest range of decrease when the weight changes of abutment screws were measured before and after repeated closing and opening. Group C showed less weight changes than Group B but there was no statistical difference between two groups. 5. Group B and Group C showed higher average detorque force than Group A and there was statistical difference. 6. Group A showed more prominent decrease tendency of average detorque force than Group B and Group C. Conclusion: Coated abutment screws with WC/C or TiN did not show prominent surface changes than uncoated titanium abutment screws even though they were repeatedly used. And they showed excellent resistance against friction and high detorque force. Thus it is considered that adaptation of WC/C or TiN coating on abutment screws will improve the screw loosening problem.

• 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.

• 대한치과보철학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2004.04a
• /
• pp.78-78
• /
• 2004

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.387-392
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of grooved abutments on abutment screw loosening. Materials and methods: This study was conducted to evaluate the abutment screw loosening after 6 months for 50 patients (51 implants) treated at the department of Prosthodontics in Yonsei University Dental Hospital from March, 2015 to July, 2015. A control group with non-grooved abutment consists of 30 implants, and an experimental group with grooved abutment consists of 21 implants. Astra, Straumann, Implantium, Osstem system were used in the study. The abutments with loose screws cases after a period of 6 months has been investigated, with two kinds of measurements: 1) measuring the additional rotational angle on abutment during placement with the same force, 2) measuring the PTV on bucco-cervical area of implant crown. All data collected has been analyzed by normality test followed by Mann-Whitney test using SPSS program. Results: No complications were reported after 6 months for the 51 implants. Abutment screw loose and crown fracture have not been seen in the study groups. The data collected from the two measurements showed no significant differences between the two groups with P-value 0.576 (average= control group: $7.35^{\circ}$, experimental group: $4.75^{\circ}$) for the additional rotational angle measurement and with P-value 0.767 for PTV. Conclusion: There are no significant differences between the grooved and non-grooved abutment in screw stability. However, further studies with long-term followups and larger group of patients is needed in order to investigate the effects of grooved abutment on screw stability.