• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 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
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2011

Recently, restoring implants in the esthetically demanding region, zirconia-based materials are widely used due to their superior mechanical properties, accuracies, and esthetics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the load transfer and mechanical stability of zirconia and titanium implant abutments by using the three-dimensional finite element analysis model. The internal conical joint type and external butt joint type implant system was selected as an experimental model. Finite element models of bone/implant/prosthesis complex were constructed. An load of 250N was applied vertically beside 3mm of implant axis. Stress distribution of zirconia and titanium implant abutment is similar. The maximum equivalent stress of titanium implant abutment is lower than zirconia implant abutment about 15%. Howevere considering a high mechanical strength that exceed those of titanium implant abutment, zirconia implant abutment had similar mechanical stability of titanium implant abutment clinically.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2011

In this study, titanium abutments and zirconia abutments were connected to each implant in external type implants. After that they were loaded 10000 times with 20Kg as occlusal force. The surface changes of external hexgon part and platform were observed in FESEM image. Viker's hardness of an implant, a titanium abutment and a zirconia abutment were measured respectively. 1. Viker's hardness of an implants, a titanium abutment and a zirconia abutment was $309.80{\pm}11.78$ HV, $318.40{\pm}11.82$ HV, and $1495.30{\pm}16.21$ HV respectively. There was no statistical significance between an implant and a titanium abutment (P>0.05, Anova). However, there was statistical significance between an implant and a zirconia abutment(P<0.05, Anova). 2. The wear was observed at the joint of implant and abutment in both a titanium abutment group and a zirconia abutment group after loading 10,000 times. The zirconia abutment showed more remarkable wear than the titanium one. In conclusion, the wear of external hexagon and platform was much more notable in a zirconia abutment group than a titanium one. It was suggested that it could result from the difference of surface hardness between titanium and zirconia. The wear of junction between an implant and a zirconia abutment becomes more severe, the connection of an implant and an abutment is much more unfit. This is likely to cause loosening and fracture of the abutment screw. so it is considered that the possibility of implant supra-structure failure can be increased.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fracture strength of straight and angled zirconia abutments for internal hex and external hex implants. Materials and methods: Twenty internal hex implants and 20 external hex implants were prepared. The prefabricated straight zirconia abutments and 17-degree-angled zirconia abutments were connected to those 40 implants. The specimens were classified into 4 groups depending on the connection type and abutment angulation; internal hex implant/straight abutment, group INS; internal hex implant/angled abutment, group INA; external hex implant/straight abutment, group EXS; external hex implant/angled abutment, group EXA. All specimens were loaded at a 30-degree angle with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min using universal testing machine. The fracture loads were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and independent t-test (${\alpha}=.05$). Results: The mean fracture load for INS was 955.91 N, 933.65 N for INA, 1267.20 N for EXS, and 1405.93 N for EXA. External hex implant showed a significantly higher fracture load, as compared to internal hex implant (P < .001). No significant differences in fracture loads were observed between the straight and angled abutment in internal hex implants (P = .747) and external hex implants (P = .222). Internal hexes of abutments were fractured horizontally in internal connection implants, while lingual cervical neck portions were fractured in external connection implants. Conclusion: The zirconia abutments with external hex implants showed significantly higher fracture strength than those with internal hex implants. However there was no difference in fracture strength between the straight and 17-degree-angled zirconia abutment connected to both implant systems.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2009

Purpose: As the esthetic demands of dental implant patients are increased, the demands of zirconia as implant abutment material are also increased. It has non-metalic color, good biocompatibility, high strength and high toughness. Even thought the advatage of zirconia abutment, there are a few studies about mechanical properties of zirconia abutment. This study evaluated the mecanical strength with compressive bending strength and endurance limit of implant-zirconia abutment assembly. Materials and Methods: Static and cyclic loading of implant-Zirconia abutment assembly were simulated under worst case condition according to ISO. Test groups were implants of external butt joint with straight regular diameter and angled regular diameter zirconia abutment, implant of external butt joint with narrow straight diameter zirconia abutment and implant of internal conical joint with straight narrow diameter zirconia abutment. All test group were evaluated the mecanical strength with compressive bending strength and endurance limit. After fatique testing, fracture surface were examined by SEM. Results: The compressive bending strengths exceed 927N. Regular diameter zirconia abutment were stronger than narrow diameter zirconia abutment(P<.05). The endurance limits ranged from 503N to 868N. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, zirconia implant abutment exceeded the estabilished values for maximum incisal biting forces reported in the literature.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.389-403
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• 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
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.209-223
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• 2013

This study was to evaluate the stress distributions of prefabricated, customized abutments and fixtures according to their material and shape by three-dimensional finite element analysis. And to investigate the fatigue life and fracture characteristics. Mandibular models were fabricated by reconstruction of the CT scan of patients with normal occlusion. A total of six finite element models were designed, a load of 100 N was applied on the buccal cusps vertically, and 30 degree obliquely. 10 specimens each were fabricated for the more clinically widely used 4 type abutments and were loaded according to ISO 14801. Differences in stress distribution patterns were not found according to the materials of the abutments and fixtures. But a slight difference in the stress level was detected. Customized abutment groups showed lower crown stress levels. One-piece zirconia implant showed the lowest bone stress levels. In the fatigue test, highest values were measured in group 7. Prefabricated abutments showed less variation of fatigue life (P<0.05). Use of customized abutments can improve the fracture resistance of restorations. Especially, use of customized zirconia abutments reinforced by titanium screw connecting parts is recommended.

• 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.