Radiographic Evaluation of the Adaptation of Prosthetic Components on Different Dental Implant Prosthetic Interfaces: Cone Morse, Internal Hexagon and External Hexagon

Introduction: Currently, the reliability of the dental implant system is not only reflected in its osseointegration success rate. The adaptation of prosthetic components is essential to accomplish the prosthetic rehabilitation. In the long run, a maladapted prosthetic component can lead to failure of the dental implant-prosthesis structure, as an example the creation of an ideal condition for the development of perimplantitis. The objective of this work was to demonstrate, by means of radiographic images, a comparison between the images of the interface between the dental implant and the prosthetic component, with one adapted and the other maladapted. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, interproximal incidence radiographs of the screwed prosthetic components on the dental implants were performed with simulation of maladaptation by interposing a 50 μm polyester matrix and without maladaptation. Three types of dental implant prosthetic interfaces were used: cone morse, internal hexagon and external hexagon. The prosthetic components used were three mini abutments, three CoCr UCLAS and three solid abutments. The dental implants with the screwed prosthetic components were positioned and stabilized with utility wax on the dummy and later radiographed with a phosphor plate system. Eighteen radiographs were taken, nine representing adapted joints and nine maladapted. Results: Results showed that in the radiographs of the cone morse dental implants there were no differences between the images, whereas in the internal hexagon and external hexagon dental implants, in the maladapted images there were identified a radiolucent line between the dental implant and the prosthetic component. Conclusion: In conclusion, It was possible to demonstrate the differences between the images of the adapted and maladapted prosthetic components to the external hexagon and internal hexagon dental implants.