Horizontal and vertical deviation caused by tightening torque on polyether ether ketone scan body in bone level versus tissue level implant: In vitro study

• Published in: Journal of dentistry Vol. 147; p. 105176
• Main Authors: Biadsee, Ameer, Yusef, Reema, Ormianer, Zeev
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2024
• Subjects: horizontal discrepancy; PEEK scan body; scan body torque; Vertical discrepancy; scan body torque; Vertical discrepancy; horizontal discrepancy; PEEK scan body
• ISSN: 0300-5712; 1879-176X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105176

This study aimed to evaluate the horizontal and vertical discrepancies in polyether ether ketone (PEEK) implant scan bodies attached to two implant connection types (bone-level tapered and tissue-level) at varying torque levels using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Seventy-eight PEEK scan bodies were evenly divided between bone-level tapered implants (BLT) and tissue-level implants (TL). Subgroups of 13 scan bodies underwent torque application at 5, 10 and 15 Ncm, followed by argon gas coating and SEM analysis. BLT measurements included scan body length and implant-scan body angle on four surfaces (buccal, mesial, distal and lingual), whereas TL measurements covered PEEK scan body angles, gap lengths on all four surfaces and scan body length on upper and lower surfaces. In the tissue-level scan group, significant differences were observed in the mean vertical discrepancies at varying torques. Scan body length (upper and lower) showed a decreasing trend of 5 Ncm > 10 Ncm > 15 Ncm, with (p < 0.001). Angle L at 5 Ncm was smaller than at 10 Ncm and 15 Ncm (p = 0.012). Gaps M, L and D displayed a trend of 5 Ncm < 15 Ncm < 10 Ncm, with p values of 0.007, 0.018 and 0.014, respectively. In contrast, the BLT group showed no significant differences in mean vertical and horizontal discrepancies with varying torque levels. Bone-level torque had no impact on the discrepancies, indicating stability. Tissue-level scans showed significant variations in both discrepancies, suggesting torque sensitivity.