• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.184-190
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• 2016

The osseointegration of titanium implants has been examined over the past 50 years. Many implant systems have been introduced and have become popular to the implant dentistry. The designs of the connection between implant fixture and abutment are divided into external vs internal connection. From beginning, the $Br{\aa}nemark$ system was characterized by an external hexagon. Internal connection has been developed to reduce stress transferred to the bone. These differences may have impact on the clinical procedures and protocols, laboratory and components costs, and incidence of complications. Therefore, the clinician has to know the different biomechanical features and understand their implications to produce successful implant-supported prosthesis with an external or an internal connection system.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2017

PURPOSE. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of implant connection design (external vs. internal) on the fit discrepancy and torque loss of zirconia and titanium abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two regular platform dental implants, one with external connection ($Br{\aa}nemark$, Nobel Biocare AB) and the other with internal connection (Noble Replace, Nobel Biocare AB), were selected. Seven titanium and seven customized zirconia abutments were used for each connection design. Measurements of geometry, marginal discrepancy, and rotational freedom were done using video measuring machine. To measure the torque loss, each abutment was torqued to 35 Ncm and then opened by means of a digital torque wrench. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and t-test at ${\alpha}=0.05$ of significance. RESULTS. There were significant differences in the geometrical measurements and rotational freedom between abutments of two connection groups (P<.001). Also, the results showed significant differences between titanium abutments of internal and external connection implants in terms of rotational freedom (P<.001). Not only customized internal abutments but also customized external abutments did not have the exact geometry of prefabricated abutments (P<.001). However, neither connection type (P=.15) nor abutment material (P=.38) affected torque loss. CONCLUSION. Abutments with internal connection showed less rotational freedom. However, better marginal fit was observed in externally connected abutments. Also, customized abutments with either connection could not duplicate the exact geometry of their corresponding prefabricated abutment. However, neither abutment connection nor material affected torque loss values.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.605-614
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• 2018

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of the DENTIS submerged-type implant with an internal hex connection and to build corresponding abutment-selection criteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A total of 204 patients received submerged implant fixtures with an internal hex connection at the Dong-A University Hospital Dental clinic in Busan from January 2013 and May 2016. Three specific abutments, UCLA abutments, customized abutments, ready-made abutments, were randomly selected. Implant success was defined as the basis of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists(ICOI, 2007) criteria. The relationship between the implant success rate and the abutment factor was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test(P<.05). RESULTS. A total of 508 implants were placed in 204 patients. After a mean observation period of 38.6 months, 493 out of 508 implants were in normal function, yielding an overall success rate of 97.05%. A total of 15 implants failed: 10 in the maxillary molar area, 4 in the mandibular molar area, and 1 in the mandibular incisal area. All of the implant failures occurred in a single-implant prosthesis, especially high in the maxillary molar area. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed that abutment selection has no significant correlation with implant failure(P>.05). CONCLUSION. DENTIS submerged implants with an internal hex connection showed predictable results with a success rate of 97.05%. It is no influence on the success rate in the selection of submerged implant abutment with an internal hex connection.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

This paper presents the loosening behavior that occurs after the application of an external load to internal and external connection types of dental implants using the finite element method. We use fastening force between an abutment and a fixture to clamp the dental implant system; however, loosening and breakage may occur owing to cyclic external loads. In this study, we considered the initial fastening condition in the pre-load analysis and then investigated the change in stress and contact surface status when applying external loads. After the application of the initial fastening load, we verified that the internal connection-type model exhibited a relatively lower stress distribution than that of the external connection-type one. Moreover, we found that the former model showed a lower stress concentration after the application of the external load. In addition, after the application of this load, we found that the higher the shear load acting on the implant system, the higher the possibility of loosening. The study results showed the change in stress distribution and contact surface according to the connection type of the dental implants and the phenomenon of loosening by cyclic loads. We expect that the results of this study will be useful for the study of reliability and design of dental implant systems.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.198-205
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• 2016

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the significance of splinted and non-splinted implant-supported restorations with an internal connection for multiple consecutively missing teeth. Upon examination of the effects of fixture-abutment connection, the distribution of occlusal load was favorable in splinted implant-prosthesis with an external connection, but effect of strain distribution was not significant in splinted implant-prosthesis with an internal connection. In splinted implant-prostheses for short implants, strain distribution was not affected by the method of retention. For cement-retained prostheses, the effect of strain distribution due to splinting was not significant. In clinical studies, non-splinted prostheses with an internal connection for multiple consecutively missing teeth showed high survival rate, mild marginal bone loss, and stable periodontal condition. However, failure to achieve optimal proximal contact between single-unit prostheses may lead to food impaction, and veneer fracture may be inevitable when the framework provides inadequate support in the proximal region. In conclusion, splinted implant-prosthesis is not an indication in all cases, and clinical consideration of its use should be based on the patient's oral condition, such as location and number of implants, formation of proximal contact, canine guidance, existence of parafunctional habit, and oral hygiene, when multiple consecutively missing teeth are replaced by internal connection type implant.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2019

PURPOSE. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two different implant-abutment connection structures with identical implant design on peri-implant bone level. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This clinical study was a patient-blind randomized controlled trial following the CONSORT 2010 checklists. This trial was conducted in 24 patients recruited between March 2013 and July 2015. Implants with internal friction connection were compared to those with external hex connection. One implant for each patient was installed, replacing the second molar. Implant-supported crowns were delivered at four months after implant insertion. Standardized periapical radiographs were taken at prosthesis delivery (baseline), and one year after delivery. On the radiographs, distance from implant shoulder to first bone-to-implant contact (DIB) and peri-implant area were measured, which were the primary and secondary outcome, respectively. RESULTS. Eleven external and eleven internal implants were analyzed. Mean changes of DIB from baseline to 1-year postloading were 0.59 (0.95) mm for the external and 0.01 (0.68) mm for the internal connection. Although no significant differences were found between the two groups, medium effect size was found in DIB between the connections (Cohen's d = 0.67). CONCLUSION. Considering the effect size in DIB, this study suggested the possibility of the internal friction connection structure for more effective preservation of marginal bone.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.496-508
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the long-term survival rate and peri-implant marginal bone loss between different types of dental implant-abutment connections. Methods: Implants with external or internal abutment connections, which were fitted at Gangneung-Wonju National University Dental Hospital from November 2011 to December 2015 and followed up for >5 years, were retrospectively investigated. Cumulative survival rates were evaluated for >5 years, and peri-implant marginal bone loss was evaluated at 1- and 5-year follow-up examinations after functional loading. Results: The 8-year cumulative survival rates were 93.3% and 90.7% in the external and internal connection types, respectively (P=0.353). The mean values of marginal bone loss were 1.23 mm (external) and 0.72 mm (internal) (P<0.001) after 1 year of loading, and 1.20 mm and 1.00 mm for external and internal abutment connections, respectively (P=0.137) after 5 years. Implant length (longer, P=0.018), smoking status (heavy, P=0.001), and prosthetic type (bridge, P=0.004) were associated with significantly greater marginal bone loss, and the use of screw-cement-retained prosthesis was significantly associated (P=0.027) with less marginal bone loss. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the cumulative survival rate between implants with external and internal abutment connections. After 1 year of loading, marginal bone loss was greater around the implants with an external abutment connection. However, no significant difference between the external and internal connection groups was found after 5 years. Both types of abutment connections are viable treatment options for the reconstruction of partially edentulous ridges.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 2014

PURPOSE. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between microleakage and screw loosening at different types of implant-abutment connections and/or geometries measuring the torque values before and after the leakage tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Three different abutment types (Intenal hex titanium, internal hex zirconium, morse tapered titanium) with different geometries were connected to its own implant fixture. All the abutments were tightened with a standard torque value then the composition was connected to the modified fluid filtration system. After the measurements of leakage removal torque values were re-measured. Kruskal-wallis test was performed for non-parametric and one-way ANOVA was performed for parametric data. The correlation was evaluated using Spearman Correlation Test (${\alpha}=0.05$). RESULTS. Significantly higher microleakage was found at the connection of implant-internal hex zirconium abutment. Observed mean torque value loss was also significantly higher than other connection geometries. Spearman tests revealed a significant correlation between microleakage and screw loosening. CONCLUSION. Microleakage may provoke screw loosening. Removing torque values rationally decrease with the increase of microleakage.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.388-394
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• 2018

PURPOSE. To measure axial displacement of different implant-abutment connection types and materials during screw tightening at the recommended torque by using a contact scanner for two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty models of missing mandibular left second premolars were 3D-printed and implant fixtures were placed at the same position by using a surgical guide. External and internal fixtures were used. Three implant-abutment internal connection (INT) types and one implant-abutment external connection (EXT) type were prepared. Two of the INT types used titanium abutment and zirconia abutment; the other INT type was a customized abutment, fabricated by using a computer-controlled milling machine. The EXT type used titanium abutment. Screws were tightened at $10N{\cdot}cm$, simulating hand tightening, and then at the manufacturers' recommended torque ($30N{\cdot}cm$) 10 min later. Abutments and adjacent teeth were subsequently scanned with a contact scanner for 2D and 3D analyses using a 3D inspection software. RESULTS. Significant differences were observed in axial displacement according to the type of implant-abutment connection (P<.001). Vertical displacement of abutments was greater than overall displacement, and significant differences in vertical and overall displacement were observed among the four connection types (P<.05). CONCLUSION. Displacement according to connection type and material should be considered in choosing an implant abutment. When adjusting a prosthesis, tightening the screw at the manufacturers' recommended torque is advisable, rather than the level of hand tightening.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-74
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• 2006

The external contour of an implant can have significant effects on the load transfer characteristics and may result in different bone failure rates for different implant system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of crest module shape and occlusal load direction on bone failure modes of five commercially available dental implant systems. Five different implant systems with internal connection; ITI (Model 1), Astra (Model 2), Bicon (Model 3), Friadent (Model 4), and Paragon (Model 5), comparable in size, but different in thread profile and cest module shapes, were compared using the finite element method. Conclusively, in the internal connection system of the implant-abutment connection methods, the stress-induced pattern at the supporting bone according to the abutment connection form had differenence among them, and implants with narrowing crestal module cross-sections at the top of the cortical bone created more favorable load transfer characteristics in this region. But it is considered that the future study is necessary about how this difference in the magnitude of the stress have an effect on the practical clinic.