Less Screw Loosening, More Implant Success- A Recent Analysis.

A recent study suggests that as the cone angle of the implant superstructure connection increases, the extraction torque of our fixing screw decreases proportionally, i.e., the larger the connection angle, the less loosening of the screw under load was smaller.

The management of screw loosening is a common issue in clinical practice. The changes in the torque are affected by the continuous, periodical repeating loads. The transmission of forces and stress distribution is influenced by numerous factors, such as occlusion, the quantity, and quality of the bone, implant body design, number and location of implants, implant inclination, osseointegration, abutment design, fit, and the micro-movements of the abutment, implant platform, thread design at the implant neck and implant-abutment connection, which may be external (EC) or internal (IC)

The height of the implant and superstructure may change as a result of the load. In this case, the occlusal height also decreases, thereby changing the occlusion, which leads to further biological (malocclusion, traumatic occlusal forces, peri-implant bone loss, temporomandibular dysfunction) and mechanical (screw loosening, fracture, superstructure deformation, fracture) issues.

Many studies showed that implant geometry, bone quality, and site of implant placement affect load transmission mechanisms, thereby, subsequently, also affecting peri-implant bone resorption. Many studies showed that implant geometry, bone quality, and site of implant placement affect load transmission mechanisms, thereby, subsequently, also affecting peri-implant bone resorption.

The researchers of the study confirmed that the implant–abutment connection greatly influences the distribution of forces in different ways at different heights between the implant and the bone.