J Adv Prosthodont.  2015 Oct;7(5):375-379. 10.4047/jap.2015.7.5.375.

Loosening torque of Universal Abutment screws after cyclic loading: influence of tightening technique and screw coating

• Bacchi A
• Regalin A
• Bhering CL
• Alessandretti R
• Spazzin AO

• KMID: 2083880
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4047/jap.2015.7.5.375

Abstract

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 106 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.

Keyword

Single-tooth dental implant; Dental prosthesis retention; Implant-supported dental prosthesis; Prosthesis loosening

MeSH Terms

Crowns
Dental Implants, Single-Tooth
Dental Prosthesis Retention
Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported
Diamond
Prosthesis Failure
Titanium
Torque*
Diamond
Titanium

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Samples under mechanical loading cycles.

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