The effect of the digital manufacturing technique of cantilevered implant-supported frameworks on abutment screw preload

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the misfit and screw preload at the implant abutment connection of implant supported fixed dental prosthesis with cantilever (ICFDP) manufactured using different digital manufacturing techniques and to compare the screw preload before and after cyclic loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mandibular jaw model with four intra-foraminal implants was scanned using digital scanner. Stereolithography file was used to design a framework with nonengaging (NE) abutments and 10 mm cantilever distal to one terminal implant. Five frameworks were constructed using combined digital-conventional techniques (CAD-cast), and five frameworks were constructed using three-dimensional printing (3DP). Additional CAD-cast framework was constructed in a way that ensures passive fit (PF) to use as control. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) measured the implant abutment connection misfit. Sixty screws were used on the corresponding frameworks. Screws were torqued and pre-cyclic loading reverse torque value (RTV) was recorded. Frameworks were subjected to 200,000 loading cycles with a loading point 9 mm from the center of terminal implants adjacent to the cantilever and post-cyclic loading RTVs were recorded. RESULTS Microscopic readings showed significant differences between frameworks. PF demonstrated the lowest measurements of 16.04 (2.6) µm while CAD-cast demonstrated the highest measurements of 29.2 (3.1) µm. In all groups, RTVs were significantly lower than the applied torque. Post-cyclic loading RTV was significantly lower than pre-cyclic loading RTV in PF and 3DP frameworks. Differences in RTVs between the three manufacturing techniques were insignificant. CONCLUSION Although CAD-cast and three-dimensionally printed (3DP) both produce frameworks with clinically acceptable misfit, 3DP might not be the technique of choice for maintaining screw’s preload stability under an aggressive loading situation.