Postfatigue fracture resistance of modified prefabricated zirconia implant abutments

Abstract

The fracture of zirconia abutments has been reported relative to different amounts of reduction. Data are not available to demonstrate whether the apical vertical reduction of a zirconia abutment at different levels can be achieved while maintaining an acceptable load-to-fracture value. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of different levels of preparation of zirconia implant abutments on the fracture load. Twenty-seven zirconia abutments (NobelProcera Abutment Zirconia) and 27 implant analogs (NobelReplace Implant Replicas) were divided into 3 groups of 9 abutments and 9 implant analogs. The Zu group (n=9) without any modification and with a chamfer margin width of 0.8 mm served as the control. The Zp1 group (n=9) was prepared with a chamfer margin width of 0.8 mm and with a 1-mm step in the labial margin. The Zp2 group (n=9) was prepared with a chamfer margin width of 0.8 mm and with a 1.5-mm step in the labial margin. The zirconia abutment was attached to the implant analog and fixed in a customized steel mounting table. The abutment-implant complex was immersed in saliva substitute to simulate the clinical oral environment. A 250 000 cycle sinusoidal fatigue load that ranged between 10 N and 210 N was applied to the specimens by using a universal testing machine. Subsequently, the specimens were loaded to fracture. One-way ANOVA and the Tukey post hoc test were used to compare the groups statistically (α=.05). The mean (standard deviation) values of the abutment load to fracture were as follows: Zu group = 567.3 ± 35.4 N; Zp1 group = 445.4 ± 41.0 N; Zp2 group = 430.5 ± 39.4 N. The lowest abutment load-to-fracture value was in the Zp2 group (408.6 N), whereas the highest abutment load-to-fracture value was in the Zu group (591.4 N). A significant (P<.05) difference was found between the Zu group and the other groups, but no significant difference was found between the Zp1 group and the Zp2 group. The primary mode of fracture (67%) was at the abutment-analog interface. Preparation of prefabricated zirconia abutments had a statistically significant negative effect on the abutment load-to-fracture values.