• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.767-780
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• 1997

One of the most common problems of implant prosthesis is the screw loosening of abutment screws. This brings on discomfort in mastication, inflammation in the peri-implant tissue due to poor oral hygiene and fracture of prosthesis or loss of osseointegration. To prevent screw loosening, appropriate implantation to direct the occlusal force to the long axis of the implant, accurate design of the superstructure, decrease of the occlusal table, and adequate torque on the abutment screw are necessary. In this study the screw loosening torque was evaluated in implants with dimples or flutes in the internal surface of abutment screw holes. The abutments were fastened with slot type and hexagonal type abutment screws and were sealed with vinyl poly siloxane impression and bite registration material respectively. The screw loosening torque was evaluated after 1,800 and 12,600 times loading under a loading machine. The results were as follows. 1. The flute form group showed significantly higher loosening torque compared to the dimple form group and the group with no inner surface treatment (p<0.05). 2. There was no statistical difference in loosening torque according to the sealing materials. 3. The loosening torque according to the types of abutment screw showed no significant difference. 4. The loosening torque was significantly higher after 1800 times loading compared to 12600 times loading(p<0.05). From the above results. it is thought that formation of a flute in the internal surface of the screw hole decreases the chance of screw loosening, but the sealing materials and types of abutment screw did not show significant difference in prevention of screw loosening.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2007

Statement of problem. Implant abutment screw joints tend to loosen under clinical conditions. Abutment screw loosening results in loss of preload in function. Purpose. Anti-rotational inner post screw (ARIPS) systems were compared with conventional abutment screws to reduce screw loosening. Reverse torque values were evaluated. Material and methods. 32 implant assemblies (Warentec, Co, Ltd, Seoul, Korea) were organized as the 30-Ncm-torque conventional groups and 30-Ncm-torque ARIPS groups in external and internal system. The specimens were tested to 106 cycles at a load of 200N. Preload reverse torque, postload reverse torque, and the ratio of postload reverse torque to preload reverse torque were evaluated. The data were analyzed with unpaired t-test in external and internal systems. Results. In the ratio of postload reverse torque to preload reverse torque, the ARIPS groups showed significant differences than the conventional screw group in both external and internal system. Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, abutment screw loosening was effectively reduced using ARIPS system.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.671-683
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• 2005

Statement of problem: The most commonly reported problem associated with dental implant restoration is the loosening of the screws. Purpose: This study compared the efficacy of an implant system incorporating an anti-rotational locking sleeve(Anti-Rotating Inner Post Screw System(ARIPS-system)) with other, traditional implant systems as a means of minimizing vibration loosening. Materials and methods: Three implant systems were examined; the conventional external hex type, the ARIPS-system, and the internal taper type implant system 30 specimens(10 samples per group)were fabricated and each abutment screw was secured to the implant future with 32Ncm of torque force and loosening torque was measured using a Torque Gauge. The procedure was repeated 3 times, recording initial loosening torque each time. The re-tightened abutment screw was subjected to a cyclic load having a maximum forte of 200N and minimum of 20N at 2Hz over a period of 12,600 cycles. after which the loosening torque was measured. Measured values were calaulated for statistical analysis. Analysis of measured value was performed by 3 methods: (i) as a percentage average of the initial 3 loosening-torque values(initial loosening value) to the tightening torque of 32Ncm, (ii) as a percentage of the loosening torque value after a load of 200N(experimental value) to the initial loosening value, and (iii) as a percentage of the experimental value to the 32Ncm of tightening torque. The analyses shows the amount of initial loosening at the screw, loosening by repetitive load and the the final loosening value. Results: The results of this study were as follows (1) Percentage of initial loosening value to tightening-torque was increased in order of external hex, ARIPS-system and internal taper and all values between each groups showed statistical significance (p<0.05). (2) Percentage of experimental value to initial loosening value was increased in order of external hex, ARIPS-system and internal taper. Value of internal taper showed significant difference with those of external hex and ARIPS-system (p<0.05). (3) Percentage of experimental value to tightening torque was increased in order of external hex, ARIPS-system and internal taper and all values between each groups showed statistical significance (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the analysis of the final loosening level value, which are closely correlated to clinical use, show that the ARIPS-system can be a useful means of minimizing abutment screw loosening when compared to the external hex type system. Although further clinical studies need to be made, the ARIPS-system should be considered to maximize the long-term success of the implant prosthesis.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1996

Abutment screw loosening of dental implant is a major problem in the treatment of dental implant. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect on the prevention of screw loosening according to tightening method and using of washer. In the first experiment, using a implant fixture and precisely fabricated temporary cylinder, the loosening torque was measured by tightening the screw 5 times repeatedly. In the second experiment, the fabricated crown and implant fixture was tightened by the screw that is attatched washer and then the loosening torque was measured after loading it 1800, 12600 times under the force of 150N. The results were as follows. 1. The highest loosening torque appeared after tightening 3 times repeatedly(p<0.01). 2. When the washer was used, the loosening torque was increased significantly under the loading 1800 times(p<0.01), 3. When the washer was used, the loosening torque was increaed under the loading 12600 times, but it is statistically not significant(p<0.01). The first experiment results mean that 3 times repeated tightening screw is most effective clinically. The second results mean that washer is effective in prevention screw loosening, but the effect is decreased with increasing load.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 2014

PURPOSE. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between microleakage and screw loosening at different types of implant-abutment connections and/or geometries measuring the torque values before and after the leakage tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Three different abutment types (Intenal hex titanium, internal hex zirconium, morse tapered titanium) with different geometries were connected to its own implant fixture. All the abutments were tightened with a standard torque value then the composition was connected to the modified fluid filtration system. After the measurements of leakage removal torque values were re-measured. Kruskal-wallis test was performed for non-parametric and one-way ANOVA was performed for parametric data. The correlation was evaluated using Spearman Correlation Test (${\alpha}=0.05$). RESULTS. Significantly higher microleakage was found at the connection of implant-internal hex zirconium abutment. Observed mean torque value loss was also significantly higher than other connection geometries. Spearman tests revealed a significant correlation between microleakage and screw loosening. CONCLUSION. Microleakage may provoke screw loosening. Removing torque values rationally decrease with the increase of microleakage.

• 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.36 no.5
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• pp.721-737
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• 1998

Abutment screw loosening of implant restorations is a common problem in the treatment of dental implant. The purpose of this study was to calculate stress and preload from the elongation measurements and to determine maximum tightening torque without plastic deformation of the screw. The length of each gold alloy UCLA screw was measured after tightening to the manufacturer's recommended torque of 32 N-cm. Similarity, titanium UCLA screws were measured after tightening to the manufacturer's recommended torque of 20 N-cm. Loosening torque was also measured after tightening to 32 N-cm torque for gold alloy abutment screws and 20 N-cm for titanium abutment screws. The results were as follows ; 1. There was a regressive relationship between screw elongation and tightening torque (gold alloy : $r^2=0.987$, titanium : $r^2=0.978$), and the mean preload calculated from elongation measurements was $501.11{\pm}26.85\;N$ (gold alloy) and $399.43{\pm}7.61\;N$ (titanium). 2. Stress calculated for the gold alloy and titanium screws at maximum recommended tightening torque was less than 60% of their respective yield strengths and with-in the elastic range. Maximum tightening torque without plastic deformation was 61 N-cm (gold alloy) and 39 N-cm (titanium). 3. For titanium screws, there was a significant difference between loosening after trial 1 and loosening after trials 2 to 5 (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was seen in mean loosening torques between the first and subsequent trials for gold alloy screws.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.81-91
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• 2002

Dental implant systems have shown many post-surgical problems and One of the most frequent problem is screw loosening. To reduce screw loosening, a number of methods have been tried and recently fundamental modification of fixture-abutment connection structure was developed and used the most frequently. Former implant system structure, such as Br${\aa}$nemark, had external hex with the height of 0.7 mm and later, fixture with external hex of 1.0 mm height and internal hex structure were developed. In addition, the method of morse taper application was introduced to reduce screw loosening. In this study, the level of screw loosening of each implant systems was compared based on the vibration loosening measurement of abutment screw of each implant systems. Analysis of measured value was performed using 3 kinds of methods, (i) Percentage of average of initial 3 times loosening-torque value(initial loosening value) to tightening-torque of 30 Ncm, (ii) Percentage of loosening-torque value after 200 N strength loaded(experimental value) to initial loosening value and (iii) Percentage of experimental value to 30 Ncm of tightening-torque. Each result of analyses shows the value of initial loosening, loosening by repetitive load and final loosening level. The results of this study were as follows. (1) Percentage of initial loosening value to tightening-torque was increased in order of 0.7 mm external hex, 1.0 mm external hex, internal hex and internal taper and all values between each groups showed statistical significance (p<0.05). (2) Percentage of experimental value to initial loosening value was increased in order of internal hex, 0.7 mm external hex, 1.0 mm external hex and internal taper. Value of internal taper showed significant difference with that of 0.7 mm external hex and internal hex (p<0.05). (3) Percentage of experimental value to tightening torque was increased in order of 0.7 mm external hex, 1.0 mm external hex, internal hex and internal taper. Values of all groups showed statistical significance (p<0.05) except between the groups of 1.0 mm external hex and internal hex. Based on those results, there was no significant difference of loosening-torque by repetitive loading except internal taper. It is supposed that implant system with high resistant capability against initial loosening could be recommended for clinical use. In addition, in case of single implant restoration, 1.0 mm external hex or internal hex could be recommended rather than 0.7 mm external hex, and the use of internal taper would be the most useful way to reduce screw loosening.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.67 no.10
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• pp.1375-1381
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• 2018

In this paper, we studied coatings of the DLC thin film for improving loosening torque of dental implant screw. We used a filtered arc ion plating process which can realize the most dense DLC layer by coating the DLC thin film on the surface of the dental abutment screw. It showed both hardness comparable to diamond and low friction coefficient similar to graphite, and to improve the loosening phenomenon by increasing the screw tightening force Cr/CrN, Ti/TiN or Ti/TiN/Cr/CrN buffer layers were deposited for 5 to 10 minutes to improve the adhesion of the DLC thin film to the surface of the Ti (Gr.5), and then the DLC thin film was coated for about 15 minutes. As a result, the Cr/CrN buffer layer exhibited the highest hardness of 29.7 GPa, the adhesion of 18.62N on average, and a very low coefficient of friction of less than 0.2 as a whole. And we measured loosening torque after one million times with masticatory movement simulator. As a result, the values of the coated screw loosening torque were clearly higher than those of the uncoated screw. From this, it was found that the DLC coating was effective methods improving the loosening torque. In addition, it was confirmed that the cytotoxicity test and cell adhesion test showed high biocompatibility.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.375-379
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• 2015

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of tightening technique and the screw coating on the loosening torque of screws used for Universal Abutment fixation after cyclic loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty implants (Titamax Ti Cortical, HE, Neodent) (n=10) were submerged in acrylic resin and four tightening techniques for Universal Abutment fixation were evaluated: A - torque with 32 Ncm (control); B - torque with 32 Ncm holding the torque meter for 20 seconds; C - torque with 32 Ncm and retorque after 10 minutes; D - torque (32 Ncm) holding the torque meter for 20 seconds and retorque after 10 minutes as initially. Samples were divided into subgroups according to the screw used: conventional titanium screw or diamond like carbon-coated (DLC) screw. Metallic crowns were fabricated for each abutment. Samples were submitted to cyclic loading at $10^6$ cycles and 130 N of force. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (5%). RESULTS. The tightening technique did not show significant influence on the loosening torque of screws (P=.509). Conventional titanium screws showed significant higher loosening torque values than DLC (P=.000). CONCLUSION. The use of conventional titanium screw is more important than the tightening techniques employed in this study to provide long-term stability to Universal Abutment screws.