comparison of maximum abutment Screw hand tourque generating by prosthodontists and students according the genus and age

Abstract

Dental implants are utilized with an ever-increasing rate. One of the causes of abutment screw loosening has been identified as inadequate preload. The objective behind this study was to compare the maximum hand-generated torque for tightening abutment screws by prosthodontists and dental students using a digital torque meter with a 0.1 N/Cm precision. Methods and Materials: In a laboratory study conducted in Dental implant department of Faculty of Dentistry of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, the maximum hand-generated torque for tightening abutment screws by prosthodontists and dental students using a digital torque meter with a 0.1 N/Cm precision was investigated. Results:The participants consisted of 36 (41.9%) women and 50 (58.1%) men, equaling to a total of 86 participants, of whom 45 (46.87%) and 41 (53.13%) were university professors and students, respectively. The mean age of participants was 33.4 ± 10.2 years within the age range of 22-60 years. 50 (58.1%) of the participants were in the 22-34-year, 23 (26.7%) were in the 35-47-year, and 13 (15.1%) were in the 48-60-year age range. The mean age of professors and students was 41±8.3 and 25.1±3.3 years, respectively.The mean maximum torque generated by female and male professors was 14.3±3 and 20.8±4.2, respectively. The mean maximum torque generated by female and male students was 14.7±3.4 and 18.7±4.3, respectively. The conducted statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the mean maximum torques generated by professors and students (P = 0.051).Conclusion:In the studied sample, the mean maximum torque generated by professors was higher than that generated by students. Yet, the difference was not statistically significant. The mean maximum torque generated by men was significantly higher. No interaction was seen between the studied groups and sex. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean generated maximum torque in different age ranges, in that, the maximum generated torque in the 22-34-year age range was lower than that in the other two age ranges. Finally, the effect of age range on the mean maximum torque was similar in both of the studied groups.