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In Vitro Fit Accuracy of Conical Connection Implant System Components - Part 2: Vertical Fit
Purpose:
This in vitro study evaluated the vertical fit accuracy of six conical connection implant systems and investigated the effect of varying tightening torque levels at four implant component connections.
Materials And Methods:
Six implant systems were tested at four component connections: implant-impression coping (I-C), replica-impression coping (R-C), replica- abutment (R-A), and implant-abutment (I-A). Ten implants (I), replicas (R), open-tray impression copings (C), and abutments (A) from each system were randomly selected for testing. Torque levels of 5, 10, and 15 Ncm were applied to I-C, R-C, and R-A connections, while manufacturer-specified torque values were used for I-A. Changes in upper component (C / A) nominal height (ΔNH for I-C, R-C, R-A; ΔNHA for I-A) were measured using a coordinate measuring machine and represented vertical fit. Data was analysed using mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) to evaluate the effects of implant system and torque magnitude on vertical fit, which was quantified by ΔNH or ΔNHA (α = 0.05).
Results:
Significant effects of torque magnitude, implant system, and their interaction on vertical displacement were observed for all component connections (P < 0.001). For I-C, R-C, and R-A, increasing torque from 5 to 10 and 15 Ncm generally resulted in decreased upper component nominal height. Mean ΔNH ranged from -0.3 ± 0.5 µm (CON, ΔNH10) to -13.9 ± 2.6 μm (ANT, ΔNH15) for I-C; from -0.3 ± 0.5 µm (CON, ΔNH10) to -25.9 ± 6.0 µm (ANT, ΔNH15) for R-C; and from -2.5 ± 1.6 µm (MEG, ΔNH10) to -33.9 ± 3.3 µm (CON, ΔNH15) for R-A. Mean ΔNHA ranged from -21.8 ± 9.7 μm (DEN, ΔNHA5) to 76.4 ± 25.4 μm (CON, ΔNHA15). ΔNHA was consistently positive for CON, MEG, and OSS, consistently negative for DEN and STR, and torque dependent for ANT.
Conclusion:
Vertical fit accuracy of conical connection implant components is influenced by implant system, component connection, and torque magnitude, with system-specific differences. No single tightening torque can consistently reproduce abutment nominal heights between replica-abutment and implant-abutment interfaces across all implant systems.
