Definitive title: The Effect of Implant Abutment Material of titanium, zirconia, and polyether ether ketone on Prosthetic Screw Fracture Resistance

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, the fracture resistance of prosthetic screws was tested using abutments made of titanium, zirconia, and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) on dental implants.

Materials and Methods: From Straumann AG in Basel, Switzerland, dental implants with specified dimensions and prosthetic screws were purchased. Three different materials (Ti, Zr, and PEEK) were evaluated as abrasives. The implant-abutment units were subjected to a constant vertical force using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) until the prosthetic screw broke. The force at the screw fracture site was measured, and one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests were used to statistically analyze the data.

Results: For Titanium, Zirconia, and PEEK abutments, the mean (±standard deviation) fracture resistance was 475±35 N, 430±40 N, and 390±30 N, respectively. A substantial difference in fracture resistance was found between the various abutment materials according to the one-way ANOVA (F (2,87) = 26.37, p<.001). Zirconia shown much stronger fracture resistance than PEEK (p <0.05) and Titanium abutments demonstrated significantly higher resistance than both Zirconia and PEEK (p <0.01), according to post-hoc tests.

Conclusion: For Titanium, Zirconia, and PEEK abutments, the mean (±standard deviation) fracture resistance was 475 35 N, 430 40 N, and 390 30 N, respectively. A substantial difference in fracture resistance was found between the various abutment materials according to the one-way ANOVA (F(2,87) = 26.37, p.001). Zirconia shown much stronger fracture resistance than PEEK (p .05) and Titanium abutments demonstrated significantly higher resistance than both Zirconia and PEEK (p .01), according to post-hoc tests.