An in vitro pilot study of the abutment stability during loading in virgin and fatigue-loaded conical dental implants using synchrotron-based radiography

The implant-abutment connection of a two-piece dental implant depicts a complex micro-mechanical behavior: a micro-gap is evident at the implant-abutment interface, even in the virgin state. Its width varies when external mechanical load is applied. High resolution synchrotron-based radiography in combination with hard X-ray phase contrast to image this gap and estimate its size is deployed. The study involves commercially available implants with different internal conical implant-abutment connections. A comparison between virgin implants and the fatigue loaded implants underlines that fatigue extends the size of the micro-gap and increases the ability of micromovement. The cone angle of the connection influences the stability of the abutment. Cyclic loading at medium force (120 N) hence induces plastic deformation of the titanium implant.