Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
An Improved Mechanical Testing Method to Assess Bone-implant Anchorage
Published on: February 10, 2014
Retention and Mechanical Behavior of Attachment Systems for Implant-Retained Auricular Prostheses
Eder Alberto Sigua-Rodriguez1, Douglas Rangel Goulart, Zarina Tatia Santos
1*Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas †Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil ‡Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Universidad de La Frontera §Center for Biomedical Research, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile.
Objective:
Auricular prostheses are artificial substitutes for facial defects. The retention of these has often been a problem. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical behavior of 3 retained auricular prosthetic connections when submitted to a mechanical cycling test.
Materials And Methods:
Twelve samples with installed implants were obtained and divided into 3 groups according to their retention system with 4 samples in each group. I: bar-clip system; II: magnet system; and III: ball/o-ring system. Each of samples was submitted to the pull-out test during 3240 cycles (f = 0.5 Hz) to determine its tensile strength. The mechanical cycling test was performed using the servo-hydraulic machine MTS 810-Flex Test 40 (Eden Prairie, MN) that had a 2.5 mm shift at a 10 mm/s velocity. The retaining strength for each of the samples was obtained at 7 intervals.
Results:
The tensile strength for the group retained by the bar-clip system (29.60 N) was higher with statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) when compared with the group retained by the ball/o-ring system (9.41 N) and magnets system (8.61 N) for all periods assessed. The ball/o-ring system showed loss of retention during the fatigue test (Kruskal-Wallis, chi-squared = 17.28; P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
The evaluated systems showed a tensile strength compatible with the clinical use and no fractures of the components were observed.
