The effect of screw tightening sequence and tightening method on the detorque value in implant-supported superstructure

Choi, Jung Han; Kim, Chang Whe; Lim, Young Jun; Kim, Myung Joo; Lee, Seok Hyung

Abstract

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The screw detorque value is a measure of the preload remaining in the screw just before detorquing. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effect of different screw tightening sequences and tightening methods on detorque values for a well-fitting implant superstructure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An implant superstructure that connected directly to four implants (Astra Tech) was fabricated on a fully edentulous mandibular acrylic resin model. Six wellfitting dental stone casts were made with a pickup impression of the superstructure from the acrylic resin model. To evaluate the effect of three screw tightening sequences (1-2-3-4, 2-4-3-1, and 2-3-1-4) and two tightening methods (2-step and 1-step) on the stability of screw joint, the detorque values for a well-fitting implant superstructure were measured twice after screw tightening using 20 Ncm. Detorque values were analyzed using multi-way analysis of variance and two-way analysis of variance at a .05 level of significance.
RESULTS
1. The mean detorque values for three screw tightening sequences were 12.3 Ncm, 12.6 Ncm, and 12.0 Ncm, respectively. 2. The mean detorque values for two screw tightening methods were 12.0 Ncm, and 12.2 Ncm, respectively. 3. The mean of mimimum detorque values for three screw tightening sequences and for two tightening methods were 10.6 Ncm, 11.1 Ncm, 10.5 Ncm, and 9.8 Ncm, respectively. 4. No statistically significant differences among the variables of screw tightening sequence and tightening method were found (p>.05) for detorque values and for mimimum detorque values.
CONCLUSION
Within the limitations of this study, the screw tightening sequence and tightening method did not have a significant effect on the detorque values for a well-fitting implant superstructure.