Effect of Screw Access Channel Filling Method and Cement Type on Retention of Implant-Supported Fixed Restorations

There is limited data on the factors affecting the retention of cemented fixed prostheses to implant abutment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of screw access channel filling method and cement type on retention of implant-supported fixed restorations.
In this experimental study, 40 implant analogs were mounted in autopolymerizing acrylic resin blocks, and two-piece titanium abutments were placed in each implant analog. Twenty abutment samples were completely filled with silicone, and 20 other samples were filled partially. In each of the study groups, Temp Bond® eugenol-containing temporary cement was used for 10 samples, while in another 10 samples non-eugenol temporary cements were utilized. Prior to the retention test, samples were placed in the rmocycling machine with 1000 cycles for 24 h. Each sample was stretched using a Universal Pull-out Test Machine with a force of 5000 N. The required load for removing the crown was recorded. The data was analyzed USING two-way ANOVA and least square difference (α=0.05).
Among the four groups, the highest retention rate was observed in the group of partial screw access channel filling with eugenol cement. Also, the rate of retention in the group of complete screw access channel filling with non-eugenol cement was significantly lower than in any other group. A significant difference was observed between all the groups except for the groups of complete screw access channel filling with eugenol cement and partial screw access channel filling with non-eugenol cement (P=0.27).
The mean rate of retention in partial access cavity filling group was greater than that of the complete access cavity filling group; moreover, this rate was higher in the eugenol cement group than the non-eugenol cement group.