• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.388-394
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• 2018

PURPOSE. To measure axial displacement of different implant-abutment connection types and materials during screw tightening at the recommended torque by using a contact scanner for two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty models of missing mandibular left second premolars were 3D-printed and implant fixtures were placed at the same position by using a surgical guide. External and internal fixtures were used. Three implant-abutment internal connection (INT) types and one implant-abutment external connection (EXT) type were prepared. Two of the INT types used titanium abutment and zirconia abutment; the other INT type was a customized abutment, fabricated by using a computer-controlled milling machine. The EXT type used titanium abutment. Screws were tightened at $10N{\cdot}cm$, simulating hand tightening, and then at the manufacturers' recommended torque ($30N{\cdot}cm$) 10 min later. Abutments and adjacent teeth were subsequently scanned with a contact scanner for 2D and 3D analyses using a 3D inspection software. RESULTS. Significant differences were observed in axial displacement according to the type of implant-abutment connection (P<.001). Vertical displacement of abutments was greater than overall displacement, and significant differences in vertical and overall displacement were observed among the four connection types (P<.05). CONCLUSION. Displacement according to connection type and material should be considered in choosing an implant abutment. When adjusting a prosthesis, tightening the screw at the manufacturers' recommended torque is advisable, rather than the level of hand tightening.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.152-159
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• 2021

Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent cyclic load affects the screwless implant-abutment connection for Morse taper dental implants. Materials and Methods. 16 implants (SICvantage max) and 16 abutments (Swiss Cross) were used. The screwless implant-abutment connection was subjected to 10,000 cycles of axial loading with a maximum force of 120 N. For the pull-off testing, before and after the same cyclic loading, the required force for disconnecting the remaining 6 implant-abutment connections was measured. The surface of 10 abutments was examined using a scanning electron microscope 120× before and after loading. Results. The pull-off test showed a significant decrease in the vertical force required to pull the abutment from the implant with mean 229.39 N ± 18.23 before loading, and 204.30 N ± 13.51 after loading (P<.01). Apart from the appearance of polished surface areas and slight signs of wear, no visible damages were found on the abutments. Conclusion. The deformation on the polished abutment surface might represent the result of micro movements within the implant-abutment connection during loading. Although there was a decrease of the pull-off force values after cyclic loading, this might not have a notable effect on the clinical performance.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2017

PURPOSE. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of implant connection design (external vs. internal) on the fit discrepancy and torque loss of zirconia and titanium abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two regular platform dental implants, one with external connection ($Br{\aa}nemark$, Nobel Biocare AB) and the other with internal connection (Noble Replace, Nobel Biocare AB), were selected. Seven titanium and seven customized zirconia abutments were used for each connection design. Measurements of geometry, marginal discrepancy, and rotational freedom were done using video measuring machine. To measure the torque loss, each abutment was torqued to 35 Ncm and then opened by means of a digital torque wrench. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and t-test at ${\alpha}=0.05$ of significance. RESULTS. There were significant differences in the geometrical measurements and rotational freedom between abutments of two connection groups (P<.001). Also, the results showed significant differences between titanium abutments of internal and external connection implants in terms of rotational freedom (P<.001). Not only customized internal abutments but also customized external abutments did not have the exact geometry of prefabricated abutments (P<.001). However, neither connection type (P=.15) nor abutment material (P=.38) affected torque loss. CONCLUSION. Abutments with internal connection showed less rotational freedom. However, better marginal fit was observed in externally connected abutments. Also, customized abutments with either connection could not duplicate the exact geometry of their corresponding prefabricated abutment. However, neither abutment connection nor material affected torque loss values.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.605-614
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• 2018

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of the DENTIS submerged-type implant with an internal hex connection and to build corresponding abutment-selection criteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A total of 204 patients received submerged implant fixtures with an internal hex connection at the Dong-A University Hospital Dental clinic in Busan from January 2013 and May 2016. Three specific abutments, UCLA abutments, customized abutments, ready-made abutments, were randomly selected. Implant success was defined as the basis of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists(ICOI, 2007) criteria. The relationship between the implant success rate and the abutment factor was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test(P<.05). RESULTS. A total of 508 implants were placed in 204 patients. After a mean observation period of 38.6 months, 493 out of 508 implants were in normal function, yielding an overall success rate of 97.05%. A total of 15 implants failed: 10 in the maxillary molar area, 4 in the mandibular molar area, and 1 in the mandibular incisal area. All of the implant failures occurred in a single-implant prosthesis, especially high in the maxillary molar area. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed that abutment selection has no significant correlation with implant failure(P>.05). CONCLUSION. DENTIS submerged implants with an internal hex connection showed predictable results with a success rate of 97.05%. It is no influence on the success rate in the selection of submerged implant abutment with an internal hex connection.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.184-190
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• 2016

The osseointegration of titanium implants has been examined over the past 50 years. Many implant systems have been introduced and have become popular to the implant dentistry. The designs of the connection between implant fixture and abutment are divided into external vs internal connection. From beginning, the $Br{\aa}nemark$ system was characterized by an external hexagon. Internal connection has been developed to reduce stress transferred to the bone. These differences may have impact on the clinical procedures and protocols, laboratory and components costs, and incidence of complications. Therefore, the clinician has to know the different biomechanical features and understand their implications to produce successful implant-supported prosthesis with an external or an internal connection system.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2009

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM. Implant drivers are getting popular in clinical dentistry. Unlike to implant systems with external hex connection, implant drivers directly engage the implant/abutment interface. The deformation of the implant/abutment interface can be introduced while placing an implant with its implant driver in clinical situations. PURPOSE. This study evaluated the change of rotational freedom between an implant and its abutment after application of different insertion torques. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Three kinds of internal connection implants were utilized for the current study($4.5{\times}12\;mm$ Xive, $4.3{\times}11.5\;mm$ Inplant Magicgrip, $4.3{\times}12\;mm$ Implantium MF). An EstheticBase, a 2-piece top, a Dual abutment was used for its corresponding implant system. The rotational freedom between an implant and its abutment were measured before and after applying 45, 100 Ncm insertion torque. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS. Under 45 Ncm insertion torque, the rotational freedom between an implant and its abutment was significantly increased in Xive(P = .003). However, no significant change was noted in Inplant Magicgrip and Implantium MF. Under 100 Ncm torque, both in Xive(P = .0005) and Implatium MF(P = .03) resulted in significantly increased rotational freedom between the implant and its abutment. DISCUSSION. The design of the implant/implant driver interface effectively prevented the deformation of implant/abutment interface. Little change was noted in the rotational freedom between an implant and its abutment, even though the insertion torque was far beyond clinical application. CONCLUSIONS. The implant/abutment joint of internally connecting implants were quite stable under insertion torque in clinical situation.

• 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.43 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to examine the stress distribution effect of tightening torques of different abutment screws in a custom-abutment implant system on the abutment-fixture connection interface stability using finite element analysis. Methods: The custom-abutment implant system structures used in this study were designed using CATIA program. It was presumed that the abutment screws with a tightening torque of 10, 20, and 30 N·cm fixed the abutment and fixture. Furthermore, two external loadings, vertical loading and oblique loading, were applied. Results: When the screw tightening torque was 10 N·cm, the maximum stress value of the abutment screw was 287.2 MPa that is equivalent to 33% of Ti-6Al-4V yield strength. When the tightening torque was 20 N·cm, the maximum stress value of the abutment screw was 573.9 MPa that is equivalent to 65% of Ti-6Al-4V yield strength. When the tightening torque was 30 N·cm, the maximum stress value of the abutment screw was 859.6 MPa that is similar to the Ti-6Al-4V yield strength. Conclusion: As the screw preload rose when applying each tightening torque to the custom-abutment implant system, the equivalent stress increased. It was found that the tightening torque of the abutment influenced the abutment-fixture connection interface stability. The analysis results indicate that a custom-abutment implant system should closely consider the optimal tightening torque according to clinical functional loads.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.496-508
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the long-term survival rate and peri-implant marginal bone loss between different types of dental implant-abutment connections. Methods: Implants with external or internal abutment connections, which were fitted at Gangneung-Wonju National University Dental Hospital from November 2011 to December 2015 and followed up for >5 years, were retrospectively investigated. Cumulative survival rates were evaluated for >5 years, and peri-implant marginal bone loss was evaluated at 1- and 5-year follow-up examinations after functional loading. Results: The 8-year cumulative survival rates were 93.3% and 90.7% in the external and internal connection types, respectively (P=0.353). The mean values of marginal bone loss were 1.23 mm (external) and 0.72 mm (internal) (P<0.001) after 1 year of loading, and 1.20 mm and 1.00 mm for external and internal abutment connections, respectively (P=0.137) after 5 years. Implant length (longer, P=0.018), smoking status (heavy, P=0.001), and prosthetic type (bridge, P=0.004) were associated with significantly greater marginal bone loss, and the use of screw-cement-retained prosthesis was significantly associated (P=0.027) with less marginal bone loss. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the cumulative survival rate between implants with external and internal abutment connections. After 1 year of loading, marginal bone loss was greater around the implants with an external abutment connection. However, no significant difference between the external and internal connection groups was found after 5 years. Both types of abutment connections are viable treatment options for the reconstruction of partially edentulous ridges.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.113-132
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to assess the stress-induced pattern at the supporting bone, the implant fixture, the abutment and the abutment screw according to a friction-fit joint (Astra; Model 1) or slip- fit joint (Frialit-2; Model 2) in the internal connection system under vertical and inclined loading using finite element analysis. In conclusion, in the internal connection system of the implant and the abutment connection methods, the stress-induced pattern at the supporting bone, the implant fixture, the abutment and the abutment screw according to the abutment connection form had difference among them, and the stress distribution pattern usually had a widely distributed tendency along the inner surface of the implant fixture contacting the abutment post. The magnitude of the stress distributed in the supporting bone, the implant fixture, the abutment and the abutment screw was higher in the friction-fit joint than in the slip-fit joint. But it is considered that the further study is necessary about how this difference in the magnitude of the stress have an effect on the practical clinic.