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

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

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.97-109
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was designed to evaluate the influence of implant abutment materials on detorque value and screw joint stability before and after dynamic fatigue test. Materials & Methods : The external hexagonal fixture and three different groups of abutment (titanium abutments, zirconia abutments, and UCLA abutments) were used. The detorque value before loading and after loading (cyclic loading up to $10^5$ cycles) of the abutment screw were measured. Result : 1. There was no significant difference in detorque value before loading among the each group. 2. There was no significant difference in detorque value after loading among the each group. 3. Detorque values before and after cyclic loading in each group were not significantly different. 4. There was no significant difference in loss percentage of removal torque before loading among the each group. 5. There was no significant difference in loss percentage of removal torque after loading among the each group. 6. There was no significant difference in loss percentage of removal torque according to loading among the each group. Conclusion : Short term screw loosening of three types of abutment was not significantly different. When bite force was applied, there was no significant difference in screw loosening between before loading and after loading.

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

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

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the screw joint stability between the CADCAM custom-made implant abutment and the prefabricated implant abutment by measuring the reverse torque value after cyclic loading. Materials and methods: Twelve screw type implants (Implantium, Dentium Co., Seoul, Korea) were embedded in aluminum cylinder with acrylic resin. The implant specimens were equally divided into 3 groups, and connected to the prefabricated titanium abutments (Implantium, Dentium Co., Seoul, Korea), CADCAM custom-made titanium abutments (Myplant, Raphabio Co., Seoul, Korea) and CADCAM custom-made zirconia abutments (Zirconia Myplant, Raphabio Co., Seoul, Korea). The CAD-CAM milled titanium crown (Raphabio Co., Seoul, Korea) was cemented on each implant abutment by resin cement. Before cyclic loading, each abutment screw was tightened to 30 Ncm and the reverse torque value was measured about 30 minutes later. After the crown specimen was subjected to the sinusoidal cyclic loading (30 to 120 N, 500,000 cycles, 2 Hz), postloading reverse torque value was measured and the reverse torque loss ratio was calculated. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis of the reverse torque loss ratio. Results: The CADCAM custom-made titanium abutments presented higher values in reverse torque loss ratio without statistically significant differences than the prefabricated titanium abutments ($P$>.05). Reverse torque loss ratio of the custom-made zirconia abutments was significantly higher compared to that of the prefabricated titanium abutments ($P$=.014). Conclusion: Within the limitation of the present $in-vitro$ study, it was concluded that there was no significant difference in screw joint stability between the CADCAM custom-made titanium abutments and the prefabricated titanium abutments. On the other hand, the CADCAM custom-made zirconia abutments showed lower screw joint stability than prefabricated titanium abutments.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of abutment material on screw-loosening before and after cyclic loading. Among the different materials of abutments, zirconia and metal abutment were used. Material and methods: Two types of implant systems: external butt joint(US II, Osstem Implant, Korea) and internal conical joint(GS II, Osstem Implant, Korea) were used. In each type, specimens were divided into two different kinds of abutments: zirconia and metal(n=5). The implant was rigidly held in a special holding to device ensure fixation. Abutment was connected to 30 Ncm with digital torque gauge, and was retightened in 30 Ncm after 10 minutes. The initial removal torque values were measured. The same specimens were tightened in 30 Ncm again and held in the cycling loading simulator(Instron, USA) according to ISO/FPIS 1480. Cycling loading tests were performed at loads 10 to 250 N, for 1 million cycles, at 14 Hz,(by subjecting sinusoidal wave from 10 to 250 N at a frequency of 14 Hz for 1 million cycles,) and then postload removal torque values were evaluated. Results: 1. In all samples, the removal values of abutment screw were lower than tightening torque values(30 Ncm), but the phenomenon of the screw loosening was not observed. 2. In both of the implant systems, initial and postload removal torque of zirconia abutment were significantly higher than those of metal abutment(P<.05). 3. In both of the implant systems, the difference in removal torque ratio between zirconia abutment and metal abutment was not significant(P>.05). 4. In metal abutments, the removal torque ratio of GS II system(internal conical joint system) was lower than that of US II system(external butt joint system)(P<.05). 5. In zirconia abutments, the difference in removal torque ratio between the two implant systems was not significant(P>.05). Conclusion: Zirconia abutment had a good screw joint stability in the condition of one million cycling loading.

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

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

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