ABSTRACT
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Implant screw loosening has been remained a problem in implant prosthodontics. The time needed to insert screw driver into abutment screw head should be shortened for the purpose of decreasing the chair time. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the design of abutment screw driver on the amount of time for insertion of screw driver into abutment screw head. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hexagonal and rectangular types of abutment screw drivers were used. The original abutment screw drivers were modified by grinding acute angle of the screw driver tip (modified drivers). Group 1 : hexagonal type abutment screw and original driver Group 2 : hexagonal type abutment screw and modified driver Group 3 : rectangular type abutment screw and original driver Group 4 : rectangular type abutment screw and modified driver UCLA lab analogues were located in acrylic resin block. The angulations of them were 0 and 20 degrees. The times needed for insertion were measured. Group 1 and 3 were used as controls. RESULTS: 1. Group 2 showed shorter insertion time than group 1, regardless of implant angulations (p<.05). 2. Group 4 showed shorter insertion time than group 3, regardless of implant angulations (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Modified abutment screw drivers required less amount of time to insert screw driver into abutment screw head. Modification of abutment screw driver was beneficial.