ACCURACY OF IMPLANT TORQUE CONTROLLERS FOLLOWING TIME IN CLINICAL SERVICE

Abstract

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ten implant systems torque wrenches in delivering the target torque values following time in clinical service. Materials and Methods: Eleven torque controllers from Nobel Biocare (Nobel Biocare Inc., Yorba Linda, CA), Camlog (Biotechnologies AG, Basel, Switzerland), Friadent (DentsplyFriadent, Mannheim, Germany), Straumann (Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland), SwissPlus (Zimmer Dental, Carlsbad, CA), Astra Tech (Astra Tech Inc., Waltham, MA), Tapered screwvent (Zimmer Dental, Carlsbad, CA), Bio-Lok (International Inc., Deerfield Beach, FL), Anthogyr (Sallanches, France), BioHorizons, (Maestro Dental Implants, Birmingham, AL), Thommen (Thommen Medical AG, Waldenburg, Switzerland), which had been in clinical service for a maximum one year were tested. An implant, along with an attached abutment and abutment titanium screw, was held firmly in a Tohnichi torque gauge. Calibration accuracy for the Tohnichi is ± 2% of the scale value. Ten torque values (10, 14, 15, 20, 24, 25, 30, 32, 35, and 45 N-cm) were tested. The data for each group were evaluated using a statistical software package with a significance level of .05. Results: Significant differences generally existed between the individual units and the target torque values for all the tested devices except Friadent. The tested devices of the Friadent, Straumann, SwissPlus and Astra Tech implant systems were capable of providing consistent torque at or near to their respective targets although the torque output of each individual device deviated from target torque value in varying degrees. Conclusion: The torque output of each individual device deviated in varying degrees from target torque values.