Resistance to Torsion of Cement vs Screw-Retained Abutments Under a Tangential Load: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The aim is to compare the resistance to torsion between 2 implant systems with internal hexagon connection: one using screw-retained abutments (Titanium Fix) and the other using cementable abutments (ITEC) under a tangential load. An in vitro experimental study was carried out. Fourteen implants, 7 implants from each system, were included in this study. The implants were placed at a 45° angle into metal blocks to simulate their position in the maxilla. Then, implants were subjected to a resistance test on a CMT5L universal testing machine, and the maximum load was applied to each sample. The maximum force with which the torsion was achieved in each sample was analyzed. The data were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test and showed normal distribution. Student t test was used to examine statistical significance between the two groups, and the P value was set at P < .05. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = .001). ITEC implants with a cementable abutment showed greater flexural strength compared to the Titanium Fix with a screwed abutment implant system. The cemented abutment showed more resistance to torsion against a tangential load compared with the screwed abutment.