• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.297-309
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• 2010

The objective of the present study was to perform a fracture analysis on fractured implant fixture after use in vivo and make clear the cause & mechanisms of failure. In case of fatigue fracture, the fractured surface represents fatigue striation. Fatigue striation indicate the progression of the crack front under cyclic loading, are characteristic of stage 2 crack growth. The site of crack initiation and stage 1 crack growth were not easily identified in any of the failure, presumably because of the complex microstructural features of the polycrystalline sample. In case of fractured by overload, dimpled or cleavage surface were observed. Using the interpretation of characteristic markings(ratchet mark, fatigue striation, dimple, cleavage et al) in fracture surfaces, failure events containing the crack origin, crack propagation, material deficiency could be understand.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.373-388
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• 2010

Fracture causes serious problems in many instance of prosthetic failures. But it is hard to find the definite causes when fractures occur. Fractography encompasses the examination of fracture surfaces that contain features resulting from the interaction of the advancing crack with the microstructure of the material and the stress fields. All fractured specimens(implant retaining screw) retrieved from Gangneung-Wonju national university dental hospital for 3 years(from 2007 to 2009). After pretreatment of samples, the scanning electon microscope were used for surface examination and fracture analysis. In case of most of the fractured specimens, fracture took place by fatigue fracture and fractured surface represents fatigue striation. Fatigue striation indicate the progression of the crack front under cyclic loading, are characteristic of stage 2 crack growth. The site of crack initiation and stage 1 crack growth were not easily identified in any of the failure, presumably because of the complex microstructural features of the polycrystalline sample. In case of fractured by overload, dimpled or cleavage surface were observed. Using the interpretation of characteristic markings(ratchet mark, fatigue striation, dimple, cleavage et al) in fracture surfaces, failure events containing the crack origin, crack propagation, material deficiency could be understand. Using the interpretation of characteristic markings in fracture surfaces, cause and mechanism of fractures could be analyzed.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-143
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• 2010

To investigate the effect of implant types and bone resorption on the fracture characteristics. 4 types of Osstem$^{(R)}$Implant were chosen and classified into external parallel, internal parallel, external taper, internal taper groups. Finite elements analysis was conducted with ANSYS Multi Physics software. Fatigue fracture test was performed by connecting the mold to the dynamic load fatigue testing machine with maximum load of 600N and minimum load of 60N. The entire fatigue test was performed with frequency of 14Hz and fractured specimens were observed with Hitachi S-3000 H scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In the fatigue test of 2 mm exposed implants group, Tapered type and external connected type had higher fatigue life. 2. In the fatigue test of 4 mm exposed implants group, Parallel type and external connected types had higher fatigue life. 3. The fracture patterns of all 4 mm exposed implant system appeared transversely near the dead space of the fixture. With a exposing level of 2 mm, all internally connected implant systems were fractured transversely at the platform of fixture facing the abutment. but externally connected ones were fractured at the fillet of abutment body and hexa of fixture or near the dead space of the fixture. 4. Many fatigue striations were observed near the crack initiation and propagation sites. The cleavage with facet or dimple fractures appeared at the final fracture sites. 5. Effective stress of buccal site with compressive stress is higher than that of lingual site with tensile stress, and effective stress acting on the fixture is higher than that of the abutment screw. Also, maximum effective stress acting on the parallel type fixtures is higher. It is careful to use the internal type implant system in posterior area.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2009

Purpose: As the esthetic demands of dental implant patients are increased, the demands of zirconia as implant abutment material are also increased. It has non-metalic color, good biocompatibility, high strength and high toughness. Even thought the advatage of zirconia abutment, there are a few studies about mechanical properties of zirconia abutment. This study evaluated the mecanical strength with compressive bending strength and endurance limit of implant-zirconia abutment assembly. Materials and Methods: Static and cyclic loading of implant-Zirconia abutment assembly were simulated under worst case condition according to ISO. Test groups were implants of external butt joint with straight regular diameter and angled regular diameter zirconia abutment, implant of external butt joint with narrow straight diameter zirconia abutment and implant of internal conical joint with straight narrow diameter zirconia abutment. All test group were evaluated the mecanical strength with compressive bending strength and endurance limit. After fatique testing, fracture surface were examined by SEM. Results: The compressive bending strengths exceed 927N. Regular diameter zirconia abutment were stronger than narrow diameter zirconia abutment(P<.05). The endurance limits ranged from 503N to 868N. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, zirconia implant abutment exceeded the estabilished values for maximum incisal biting forces reported in the literature.