Abstract
Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a sealing agent in sealing the abutment/implant interface and the preload maintenance of retaining screws after mechanical cycling.
Methods: Six groups (n = 12) were evaluated according to the abutment/implant system (external-hexagon implant and UCLA abutments, EHU; Morse taper implant and UCLA abutments, MTU; and Morse taper implant and flexcone abutments, MTF) and the presence of an anaerobic gel sealing agent (control group, no sealing agent; experimental group, sealing agent). Toluidine blue (0.7 μL) was inserted into each implant and the abutments were attached to the implants using a digital torque wrench to evaluate the sealing of the abutment/implant interface. The specimens were tested through mechanical cycling (1 × 10 6 cycles, 2 Hz, and 130 N). Dye release from the abutment/implant interface was analyzed using a spectrophotometer, and the reverse torque values were obtained using a digital wrench. Reverse torque and dye release data were measured after mechanical cycling and analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α =.05).
Results: All experimental groups showed higher reverse torque values than the control groups (P ‹.05). In general, the MTU and MTF experimental groups, as well as the MTF control group, showed no significant dye release at different periods (P ›.05).
Conclusions: The use of a sealing agent improved the preload maintenance of screw-retained implant-supported prostheses. The sealing agent was effective in sealing the Morse taper connection.
