• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.258-263
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• 2005

Statement of problem. Implant screw loosening has been remained a problem in implant prosthodontics. The time needed to insert screw driver into abutment screw head should be shortened for the purpose of decreasing the chair time. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the design of abutment screw driver on the amount of time for insertion of screw driver into abutment screw head. Material and methods. Hexagonal and rectangular types of abutment screw drivers were used. The original abutment screw drivers were modified by grinding acute angle of the screw driver tip (modified drivers). Group 1 : hexagonal type abutment screw and original driver Group 2 : hexagonal type abutment screw and modified driver Group 3 : rectangular type abutment screw and original driver Group 4 : rectangular type abutment screw and modified driver UCLA lab analogues were located in acrylic resin block. The angulations of them were 0 and 20 degrees. The times needed for insertion were measured. Group 1 and 3 were used as controls. Results. 1. Group 2 showed shorter insertion time than group 1, regardless of implant angulations (p<.05). 2. Group 4 showed shorter insertion time than group 3, regardless of implant angulations (p<.05). Conclusion. Modified abutment screw drivers required less amount of time to insert screw driver into abutment screw head. Modification of abutment screw driver was beneficial.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.275-286
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• 2002

Statement of problem. Surface alteration of the implant screws after function may be associated with mechanical failure. Theses metal fatigue appears to be the most common cause of structural failure. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate surface alteration of the implant screws after function through the examination of used and unused implant screws in SEM(scanning electron microscope). Materials and methods. In this study, abutment screws(Steri-oss, 3i), gold retaining screw(3i) and titanium retaining screw(3i) were retrieved from patients. New, unused abutment and retaining screws were prepared for control group. Each of the old, used screws was retrieved with a screwdriver. And retrieved implant complex of Steri-oss system was prepared for this study. Then, SEM investigation and EDS analysis of abutment and retaining screws were performed. And SEM investigation of cross-sectioned sample of retrieved implant complex was performed. Results. In the case of new, unused implant screws, as maunfactured circumferential grooves are regularly examined and screw thread are sharply remained. Before ultrasonic cleansing of old, used implant screw, a lot of accumulation and corrosion products were existed. After ultrasonic cleansing of old, used implant screws, circumferential grooves as examined before function were randomly deepened and scratches increased. Also, dull screw thread was examined. More surface alterations after function were examined in titanium screw than gold screw. And more surface alteration was examined when retrieved with driver than retrieved without driver. Conclusions. These surface alteration after function may result in the screw instability. Regularly cleansing and exchange of screws was recommended. We recommend the use of gold screw rather than titanium screw, and careful manipulation of the driver.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.628-640
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• 2004

Statement of problem. Wear as a result of repeated closing/opening cycles may decrease the friction coefficient of screw head, threads, and other mating components and, consequently, resistance to opening gradually decreases. It may cause screw loosening, which is one of the most common failures in implant prosthesis. Purpose. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes on the head and thread surface of the abutment screws after repeated closing and opening through the examination of tested screws in SEM(scanning electron microscope). Materials and methods. Five species of abutments were selected (3i-three, Avana-two) respectively by two pieces. The implant fixtures were perpendicularly mounted in liquid unsaturated polyesther(Epovia, Cray Valley Inc.) with dental surveyor. Each abutment was secured to the implant fixture by each abutment screw with recommended torque value using a digital torque controller. The abutment screws were repeatedly tightened and removed 20 times with a digital controller. FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscope, Netherland, Phillips co., model:XL 30 SFEG) was used to observe changes of each part caused by repeatedly closing/opening expeiment. First, the Photomicrographs of pre-test screws provided by each manufacturer were taken. The changes of each screw were investigated after every fifth closing and opening experiment with FESEM. Scaning electron microscope photomicrographs of each screw were taken four times. Results. As the number of closing and opening was increased, the wear or distortion of hexed or squared slot that contacted with the driver tip was more severely progressed. Wear or distortion of hexed slot was more severe than that of squared slot and it was more remarkable in the titanium screw than in the gold screw. All the tested screws showed that the width in the crest of their screw thread decreased gradually as the test was proceeded. Conclusions. Conclusively, we recommend the clinical use of gold screw, a periodic exchanges of abutment screws and avoiding repeated closing/opening unnecessarily. We also suggest a more careful manipulation of the abutment screw and screw-driver and using of abutment screw with an acute-angled slot design rather than an obtuse-angled one. Finally, it is suggested that the new slot design and the surface treatment for enduring wear or distortion should be devised.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2013

Purpose: In this study, the loosening torque test was conducted with three implant products that are produced, approved and sold in Korea, which are manufactured in different fixture and abutment tightening methods (internal submerged type, internal morse taper type, and external type) to examine the loosening torque of the screw according to the method of tightening the implant fixture and abutment. Methods: In the loosening torque test, the three types of fixtures and abutments with different tightening methods were tightened by rotating them clockwise with a $30N{\cdot}cm$ force using a driver equipped with an electric torque meter. The results of the test are as follows. Results: The loosening torque values of the internal submerged type, internal morse taper type and external type implants were $24.10{\pm}0.742N{\cdot}cm$, $29.10{\pm}1.710N{\cdot}cm$, and $26.60{\times}1.636N{\cdot}cm$, respectively. Conclusion: The screw loosening torque values of the three fixture and abutment tightening methods were analyzed via Kruskal Wallis test layout, and they were significantly different (p<0.05).

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.375-382
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• 1999

The purpose of this article is to present the clinical and laboratory procedures for single tooth restoration using 'Combination Implant Crown'. It is cemented on implant abutment and that abutment is screw-retained over implant body. This type of implant restorations has the advantages of cement-retained restoration while being antirotational and retrievable. And, more esthetic and functional result can be achieved by minimizing the size of access hole. The results were as follows : 1. Preparation of abutment below the cuff line should be avoided 2. Axial reduction of implant abutment should not be excessive because it may weaken the abutment 3. More esthetical and functional occlusal surface was achieved with a minimal access hole which is slightly larger than the diameter of hex driver to enable future total retrievability. 4. Combination Implant Crown has the advantages of both the cement-retained and screw-retained type implant restoration. 5. Cementation between implant crown and abutment reduces screw loosening through even force distribution

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.335-353
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to the determine the optimal torques values to tighten the retaining screw. 3-different implant system tested were as follows : Branemark implant system$(3.75mmD{\times}100mm)$, Steri-Oss implant system$(3.8mmD{\times}10mm)$. One fixtures of each implant system was mounted into the epoxy resin block and abutment/superstructure complex was constructed. Eighty dental college students(male : 40, female : 40) of Chosun University were selected and were asked to tighten the retaining screws. Abutment/superstructure complex of each implant system was tightened to the maximum torque by use of hand-held screw driver, and then torque value was measured with torque value was measured with torque driver(Tohnichi torque driver, model 20 FTD, Tohnichi MFG, Co., LTD., Tokyo, Japan). Abutment/superstructure complex of each implant system was titghtened to each torque of 10 N-cm, 20 N-cm and 30 N-cm, and then the dynamic load(vertical & diagonal load) was applied to the abutment / superstructure complex. The gap between abutment/superstrure in each implant system was measured with 3-dimensional measuring microscope(model No. 850, Germany). The results were as follow : 1. Torque values according to the individual subjects showed wide range. 2. Torque values according to sex showed statistical significant difference. Those are as follows : in case of male, $9.38{\pm}2.93$ N-cm ; incase of female, $7.80{\pm}2.25$ N-cm. 3. Torque values according t implant systems showed statistical significant difference. Those are as follows : in ase of Branemark implant system, $6.54{\pm}1.54$ N-cm : in ase of Steri-Oss implant system, $10.1{\pm}2.88$ N-cm ; in case of IMZ implant system, $9.18{\pm}2.17$ N-cm. 4. The more torque value of tightening screw was increased, the less the gap was after the vertical and diagonal loading. 5. The gap after the diagonal loading was greater than that after the vertical loading. 6. The magnitude of gap between abutment/superstructure in order of IMZ, Steri-Oss, Branemark implant system after the verical and diagonal loading. 7. The gap under the diagonal loading after applying 30 N-cm torque showed no statistical significant difference in cases of the Branemark system and the Steri-Oss implant system but it showed significant different in case of the IMZ implant system.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.695-703
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of fabrication and tightening methods of gold cyliner on the preload of the standard abutment. Three linear strain gauges (KFR-02N-120-C1-23, Kyowa, Japan) were mounted longitudinally on the 5.5mm Standard abutment (Nobel Biocare, Sweden) and three kinds of gold cylinders such as, as-received gold cylinder, gold cylinder after casting, and plastic cylinder after casting with type IV gold alloy were connected over the top of the standard abutment. Two kinds of tightening methods, such as manual torque with handhold screwdriver and electronic torque using Electronic torque controller were used to generate preload on the abutment. The result were as follows; 1. The preload generated by tightening cast plastic cylinder with handhold screw driver, was the lowest among the six groups. 2. The preload generated by cast plastic cylinder was lower than those by gold cylinders regardless of the tightening methods. 3. The electronic torque controller produced higher torque values than the handheld screwdriver.