TIGHTENING CHARACTERISTICS FOR SCREWED JOINTS IN OSSEOINTEGRATED DENTAL IMPLANTS

The significance of tightening abutment screws and gold cylinders to o sseointegrated fixtures with the correct torque is demonstrated, and a simple relationship between applied torque and screw preload is deriv ed by use of mechanical engineering principles. The principles of a nu mber of tightening methods are outlined and assessments made of their accuracy. The difference between optimum and design torque is highligh ted. The necessity and means of achieving optimum torque to ensure a r eliable joint in clinical practice is discussed.