Mechanics of the implant-abutment connection: An 8-degree taper compared to a butt joint connection

This paper presents a comparison between the 8-degree Morse Taper and the b utt joint as connections between an implant and an abutment, Three-dimensio nal, non-linear finite element models were created to compare the 2 connect ion principles under equal conditions. The loading configuration was thereb y modeled according to a test setup actually used for the dynamic long-term testing of dental implants as required for regulatory purposes, The result s give insight into the mechanics involved in each type of connection and a re compared to actual findings with the testing machine, The comparison ind icates the superior mechanics of conical abutment connections and helps to explain their significantly better long-term stability in the clinical appl ication.