• 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.

• 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).

• 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.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 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.