Dr. O. asks:
When a dental implant manufacturer publishes guidelines for determining the final torque value for their abutment screw, does that apply to when the screw and implant threads are dry or wet?
If it applies to when the threads are dry, shouldn’t the torque value be constant and not vary? If it applies to when the threads are wet, the torque value will vary with the medium wetting the threads.
Also, if you put a sealing agent on the threads – as some doctors do to prevent microbiologic leakage and contamination – shouldn’t the torque value should be lowered because the threads will glide more easily against each other. In this situation, the doctor has to take this into account or he will overtorque and possibly break the abutment screw. Finally, should the torque values be the same for gold, gold plated or titanium screws?
I have used the torque guidelines as indicated by the manufaacturer, wet or dry. Sealers…little impact. Ask your implant manufacturer’s liason
Why go through all this hassle? With a friction fit TSV from Zimmr you don’t have to use “special screws”. It’s about the implant connection- not the screw.
I would suggest consulting with the manufacturers regarding placing anything on the threads of an abutment screw at delivery. There may be a company that recommends this but to the best of my knowledge none of the big 5 recommend it; Astra, Biomet 3i, Nobel, Straumann or Zimmer.
This sounds like a great topic for a Dental School Research Project