A Biomechanical Study of Uniplant SP® Temporary Dental Implants: Loading under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

The mechanical strength parameters of Uniplant SP® temporary implants were investigated. In clinical practice temporary implants are used to provide the patient with a fixed temporary restoration. Temporary implants are one-part implants small in diameter, and by design they have excellent primary stability. The temporary fixtures are usually placed simultaneously with the final implants. They positioned between the final implants. Due to their good stability they can immediately be loaded. They are usually expected to function till the final implants are ready for loading and when no longer needed, the temporary implants are removed.
The abutment that carries the prosthetic components is manufactured in one piece with the implant, connected to it with a narrower neck portion. This neck part might easily fracture in the first instance when the abutment is bent to make abutments parallel in order to fabricate the temporary prosthetic device and in a second instance when temporary implants are removed. In the present study the mechanical properties of the cervical part were studied in a custom-designed device. Based on the results of the loading studies recommendations were made to modify the current shape of the implant. With minimal modification of the implant design and lengthening the implant neck risk of fracture can be significantly reduced.