RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The implant-abutment connection of a two-piece dental implant exhibits complex micromechanical behavior. A microgap is evident at the implant-abutment interface, even in the virgin state, and its width varies when an external mechanical load is applied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used high-resolution synchrotron-based radiography in combination with hard x-ray phase-contrast mode to visualize this gap and estimate its size. Commercially available implants with different internal conical implant-abutment connections were imaged. Pairs of implants were imaged as manufactured (new) and after fatigue loading (5 million cycles up to 120 N). Then, different static loads were applied at different angles relative to the implant-abutment assemblies, and the implant-abutment microgaps were measured and compared. RESULTS: Microgaps existed in all systems. Fatigue loading extended the size of the microgap and increased the possibility of micromovement of the implant-abutment complex. The cone angle of the connection also influenced the stability of the abutment, with flatter cones appearing to be more stable. CONCLUSION: Cyclic loading at medium force (120 N) induces plastic deformation of titanium implants and abutments.
Asunto(s)
Diseño de Implante Dental-Pilar , Implantes Dentales , Análisis del Estrés Dental/métodos , Radiografía Dental Digital/métodos , Estrés Mecánico , Titanio , Pilares Dentales , Proyectos Piloto , Sincrotrones , Soporte de PesoRESUMEN
Pushing synchrotron x-ray radiography to increasingly higher image-acquisition rates (currently up to 100,000 fps) while maintaining spatial resolutions in the micrometer range implies drastically reduced fields of view. As a consequence, either imaging a small subregion of the sample with high spatial resolution or only the complete specimen with moderate resolution is applicable. We introduce a concept to overcome this limitation by making use of a semi-transparent x-ray detector positioned close to the investigated sample. The hard x-rays that pass through the sample either create an image on the first detector or keep on propagating until they are captured by a second x-ray detector located further downstream. In this way, a process can be imaged simultaneously in a hierarchical manner within a single exposure and a projection of the complete object with moderate resolution as well as a subregion with high resolution are obtained. As a proof-of-concept experiment, image sequences of an evolving liquid-metal foam are shown, employing frame rates of 1000 images/s (1.2 µm pixel size) and 15,000 images/s (18.1 µm pixel size) for the first and second detector, respectively.