• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.561-568
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• 2008

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Currently, many implant systems are developed and divided into two types according to their joint connection: external or internal connection. Regardless of the connection type, screw loosening is the biggest problem in implant-supported restoration. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the difference in stability of abutment screws between the external and internal hexagonal connection types under cyclic loading. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Each of the 15 samples of external implants and internal abutments were tightened to 30 N/cm with a digital torque gauge, and cemented with a hemispherical metal cap. Each unit was then mounted in a $30^{\circ}$ inclined jig. Then each group was divided into 2 sub-groups based on different periods of cyclic loading with the loading machine (30 N/ cm - 300 N/cm,14 Hz: first group $1{\times}10^6$, $5{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading; second group $3{\times}10^6$, $3{\times}10^6$ for a total cyclic loading of $6{\times}10^6$) The removal torque value of the screw before and after cyclic loading was checked. SPSS statistical software for Windows was used for statistical analysis. Group means were calculated and compared by ANOVA, independent t-test, and paired t-test with ${\alpha}$=0.05. RESULTS: In the external hexagonal connection, the difference between the removal torque value of the abutment screw before loading, the value after $1{\tims}10^6$ cyclic loading, and the value after $1{\times}10^6$, and additional $5{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading was not significant. The difference between the removal torque value after $3{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading and after $3{\times}10^6$, and additional $3{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading was not significant. In the internal hexagonal connection, the difference between the removal torque value before loading and the value after $1{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading was not significant, but the value after $1{\times}10^6$, and additional $5{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading was reduced and the difference was significant (P < .05). In addition, in the internal hexagonal connection, the difference between the removal torque value after $3{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading and the value after $3{\times}10^6$, and additional $3{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading was not significant. CONCLUSION: The external hexagonal connection was more stable than the internal hexagonal connection after $1{\times}10^6$, and additional $5{\times}10^6$ cyclic loading (t = 10.834, P < .001). There was no significant difference between the two systems after $3{\times}10^6$, and additional $3{\times}10^6$ cycles.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2019

PURPOSE. Limited data is available regarding the differences for possible microleakage problems and fitting accuracy of zirconia versus titanium abutments with various connection designs. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of connection design and abutment material on the sealing capability and fitting accuracy of abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 42 abutments with different connection designs [internal conical (IC), internal tri-channel (IT), and external hexagonal (EH)] and abutment materials [titanium (Ti) and zirconia (Zr)] were evaluated. The inner parts of implants were inoculated with $0.7{\mu}L$ of polymicrobial culture (P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola and F. nucleatum) and connected with their respective abutments under sterile conditions. The penetration of bacteria into the surrounding media was assessed by the visual evaluation of turbidity at each time point and the number of colony forming units (CFUs) was counted. The marginal gap at the implant- abutment interface (IAI) was measured by scanning electron microscope. The data sets were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis followed by Mann-Whitney U tests with the Bonferroni-Holm correction (${\alpha}=.05$). RESULTS. Statistically significant difference was found among the groups based on the results of leaked colonies (P<.05). The EH-Ti group characterized by an external hexagonal connection were less resistant to bacterial leakage than the groups EH-Zr, IT-Zr, IT-Ti, IC-Zr, and IC-Ti (P<.05). The marginal misfit (in ${\mu}m$) of the groups were in the range of 2.7-4.0 (IC-Zr), 1.8-5.3 (IC-Ti), 6.5-17.1 (IT-Zr), 5.4-12.0 (IT-Ti), 16.8-22.7 (EH-Zr), and 10.3-15.4 (EH-Ti). CONCLUSION. The sealing capability and marginal fit of abutments were affected by the type of abutment material and connection design.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2007

In order to have a superconductive connection between the wire-wound pickup coil and input coil, typically Nb terminal blocks with screw holes are used. Since this connection structure occupies large volume, large stray pickup area can be generated which can pickup external noise fields. Thus, SQUID and connection block are shielded inside a superconducting tube, and this SQUID module is located at some distance from the distal coil of the gradiometer to minimize the distortion or imbalance of uniform background field due to the superconducting module. To operate this conventional SQUID module, we need a higher liquid He level, resulting in shorter refill interval. To make the fabrication of gradiometers simpler and refill interval longer, we developed a novel method of connecting the pickup coil into the input coil. Gradiometer coil wound of 0.125-mm diameter NbTi wires were glued close to the input coil pads of SQUID. The superconductive connection was made using an ultrasonic bonding of annealed 0.025-mm diameter Nb wires, bonded directly on the surface of NbTi wires where insulation layer was stripped out. The reliability of the superconductive bonding was good enough to sustain several thermal cycling. The stray pickup area due to this connection structure is about $0.1\;mm^2$, much smaller than the typical stray pickup area using the conventional screw block method. By using this compact connection structure, the position of the SQUID sensor is only about 20-30 mm from the distal coil of the gradiometer. Based on this compact module, we fabricated a magnetocardiography system having 61 first-order axial gradiometers, and measured MCG signals. The gradiometers have a coil diameter of 20 mm, and the baseline is 70 mm. The 61 axial gradiometer bobbins were distributed in a hexagonal lattice structure with a sensor interval of 26 mm, measuring $dB_z/dz$ component of magnetocardiography signals.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2012

Purpose: To analyze the stress distribution of the implant and its supporting structures through 3D finite elements analysis for implants with different hexagon heights and to make the assessment of the mechanical stability and the effect of the elements. Materials and methods: Infinite elements modeling with CAD data was designed. The modeling was done as follows; an external connection type ${\phi}4.0mm{\times}11.5mm$ Osstem$^{(R)}$ USII (Osstem Co., Pusan, Korea) implant system was used, the implant was planted in the mandibular first molar region with appropriate prosthetic restoration, the hexagon (implant fixture's external connection) height of 0.0, 0.7, 1.2, and 1.5 mm were applied. ABAQUS 6.4 (ABAQUS, Inc., Providence, USA) was used to calculate the stress value. The force distribution via color distribution on each experimental group's implant fixture and titanium screw was studied based on the equivalent stress (von Mises stress). The maximum stress level of each element (crown, implant screw, implant fixture, cortical bone and cancellous bone) was compared. Results: The hexagonal height of the implant with external connection had an influence on the stress distribution of the fixture, screw and upper prosthesis and the surrounding supporting bone. As the hexagon height increased, the stress was well distributed and there was a decrease in the maximum stress value. If the height of the hexagon reached over 1.2mm, there was no significant influence on the stress distribution. Conclusion: For implants with external connections, a hexagon is vital for stress distribution. As the height of the hexagon increased, the more effective stress distribution was observed.