Influence of abutment and connection type on implant-abutment connection rigidity: an in vitro study

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of abutment material and connection type on implant-abutment rigidity. Methods: The study evaluated eighteen implants with three different types connections: external-hexagon, tri-channel, conical connection. Half were connected to titanium abutments, other half zirconia forming six groups (n=3). submitted 1,200,000 load cycles a force amplitude 90 N. During application, rigidity was determined in each cycle. values obtained analyzed two-way ANOVA test according types. Results: Rigidity tended increase during loading cycles. did not influence (p=0.883). external-hexagon presented lower than internal connections, statistically significant differences (p=0.013). Conclusions: does connection’s proved be less rigid stable connections.