Wear of Titanium Implant Platforms with Different Abutment Connections and Abutment Materials: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The most commonly used material in dental implants and their abutments is titanium. Zirconia is a more aesthetic alternative to titanium abutments; however, it is much harder. There are concerns that zirconia could damage the surface of the implant over time, especially in less stable connections. The aim was to evaluate the wear of implants with different platforms connected to titanium and zirconia abutments. A total of six implants were evaluated, two of each connection type: external hexagon, tri-channel, and conical connections (n = 2). Half of the implants were connected to zirconia abutments, and the other half to titanium abutments (n = 3). The implants were then cyclically loaded. The implant platforms were evaluated by digital superimposing micro CT files and calculating the area of the loss surface (wear). In all the implants, a statistically significant loss of the surface area (p = 0.028) was observed when comparing the area before and after cyclic loading. The average lost surface area was 0.38 mm2 with titanium abutments and 0.41 mm2 with zirconia abutments. The average lost surface area was 0.41 mm2 with the external hexagon, 0.38 mm2 with the tri-channel, and 0.40 mm2 with the conical connection. In conclusion, the cyclic loads induced implant wear. However, neither the type of abutment (p = 0.700) nor the connection (p = 0.718) influenced the amount of surface area lost.