Torque Maintenance Capacity, Vertical Misfit, Load to Failure, and Stress Concentration of Zirconia Restorations Cemented or Notched to Titanium Bases

Purpose: Different titanium bases for implant-supported prostheses can present different mechanical behavior. The goal of this study was to evaluate the torque before and after fatigue, the load to failure, and stress concentration of zirconia restorations cemented or notched to a titanium base. Materials and Methods: Forty implants were included in polyurethane cylinders and divided into two groups: zirconia restoration cemented on a titanium base and zirconia restoration notched on a titanium base. The specimens had their torque loosening and vertical misfit evaluated before and after cyclic fatigue (200 N/2 Hz/2 × 106 cycles/37°C). Load to failure was evaluated in a universal testing machine (1 mm/min, 1,000 kgf). Failures were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Three-dimensional models were created, and the stress concentration was calculated using the finite element method. Data from the in vitro tests were submitted to two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test (α = .5). Results: The cemented restorations presented less torque loosening (19.79 to 15.95 Ncm), lower vertical misfit (3.7 to 10.5 μm), lower stress concentration in the restoration (88.2 to 99.8 MPa), and higher fracture load (451.3 to 390.8 N) than notched restorations. Conclusion: The presence of a cement layer between the restoration and titanium base reduced the susceptibility to abutment screw loosening, improved the resistance to compressive load, and reduced the stress concentration in the restoration. Keywords: 3D, biomechanics, CAD/CAM, finite element analysis, prosthodontics