• 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 Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.246-254
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• 2008

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The cast abutment has advantages of overcoming angulation problem and esthetic problem. However, when a gold-machined UCLA abutment undergoes casting, the abutment surfaces in contact with the implant may change. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the detorque values of prefabricated machined abutments with gold-premachined cast-on UCLA abutments before and after casting in two types of internal implant-abutment connection systems: (1) internal hexagonal joint, (2) internal octagonal joint. Furthermore, the detorque values of two implant-abutment connection systems were compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty internal hexagonal implants with an 11-degree taper and twenty internal octagonal implants with an 8-degree taper were acquired. Ten prefabricated titanium abutments and ten gold-premachined UCLA abutments were used for each systems. Each abutment was torqued to 30 N㎝ according to the manufacturer's instructions and detorque value was recorded. The detorque values were measured once more, after casting with gold alloy for UCLA abutment, and preparation for titanium abutments. Group means were calculated and compared using independent t-test and paired t-test (${\alpha}$=0.05). RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1. The detorque values between titanium abutments and UCLA-type abutments showed significant differences in internal octagonal implants (P<0.05), not in internal hexagonal implants (P>0.05). 2. In comparison of internal hexagonal and octagonal implants, the detorque values of titanium abutments had significant differences between two connection systems on the initial analysis (P<0.05), not on the second analysis (P>0.05) and the detorque values of UCLA-type abutments were not significantly different between two connection systems (P>0.05). 3. The detorque values of titanium abutments and UCLA-type abutments decreased significantly on the second analysis than the initial analysis in internal hexagonal implants (P<0.05), not in internal octagonal implants (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Casting procedures of UCLA-type abutments had no significant effect on screw loosening in internal implant-abutment connection systems, and UCLA-type abutments showed higher detorque values than titanium abutments in internal octagonal implants.

• 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.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the axial displacement of the hexagonal and conical abutment in internal conical connection implant after screw tightening and cyclic loading. Materials and Methods: Internal conical connection implants were divided into two groups (n = 10): group HEX, hexagonal abutment; and group CON, conical 2-piece abutments. The axial displacement and removal torque values were measured after 30 Ncm torque tightening and 250N loading test of 100,000 cycles. The Student t test with 5% significance level was used to evaluate the data. Results: HEX group demonstrated significantly higher axial displacement values after 30 Ncm tightening in comparison to the CON group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in axial displacement after cyclic loading (P = 0.052). Removal torque loss before and after the cyclic loading both revealed no significant difference between groups (P = 0.057 and P = 0.138). Removal torque value decreased after cyclic loading in both groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, both abutment with or without hexagon index presented similar biomechanical performance except HEX group demonstrated significantly more axial displacement after applying tightening torque.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2016

Purpose: This study is aimed to assess changes of stress distribution dependent on different connection lengths and placement of the fixture top relative to the ridge crest. Materials and methods: The internal-conical connection implant which has a hexagonal anti-rotation index was used for FEM analysis on stress distribution in accordance with connection length of fixture-abutment. Different connection lengths of 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm, and 4.5 mm were designed respectively with the top of the fixture flush with residual ridge crest level, or 2 mm above. Therefore, a total of 6 models were made for the FEM analysis. The load was 170 N and 30-degree tilted. Results: In all cases, the maximum von Mises stress was located adjacent to the top portion of the fixture and ridge crest in the bone. The longer the connection length was, the lower the maximum von Mises stress was in the fixture, abutment, screw and bone. The reduction rate of the maximum von Mises stress depending on increased connection length was greater in the case of the fixture top at 2 mm above the ridge crest versus flush with the ridge crest. Conclusion: It was found that the longer the connection length, the lower the maximum von Mises stress appears. Furthermore, it will help prevent mechanical or biological complications of implants.

• 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.