An in vitro evaluation of titanium, zirconia, and alumina procera abutments with hexagonal connection
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Published on: June 24, 2018
Paolo Vigolo1, Fulvio Fonzi, Zeina Majzoub
1Department of Clinical Odontostomatology, University of Padova Institute of Clinical Dentistry, Padova, Italy. paolovigolo@virgilio.it
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to assess the precision at the implant interface of titanium, zirconia, and alumina Procera abutments with a hexagonal connection for single-tooth restorations.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty Procera abutments were produced with commercially pure titanium, 20 with zirconia, and 20 with alumina using computer-assisted design and manufacture (CAD/CAM). The rotational freedom of the abutments was assessed to detect the precision of fit of each abutment on the top of the implant hexagon.
Results:
Significant differences relative to rotational freedom were found between groups: the titanium group and the zirconia group did not differ significantly, but both demonstrated significantly smaller mean rotational freedoms than the alumina group (P < .05). Rotational freedom was less than 3 degrees for all abutments.
Conclusions:
The hexagonal misfit of the Procera abutment on the implant hexagon may be implicated in screw joint loosening. In the present study, all types of CAD/CAM Procera abutments consistently showed less than 3 degrees of rotational freedom in a situation where the abutment was connected to an implant by a hexagonal external connection.
