Title
Evaluation of micro-gap formation and mechanical stability at the implant-abutment interface under simulated cyclic loading conditions
Authors
Vizaikumar Vasudha Nelluri1,*, Richa Sahai2, Siddhant Uday Kator3, Subhi Aliya4, Sanjana Moses5 & Pooja Sharanabasappa Nagoji6
Affiliation
1Department of Prosthodontics & Crown and Bridge, Government Dental College & Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; 2Department of Prosthodontics, VSPM's Ranjeet Deshmukh Dental College & Research Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India; 3Private practitioner, Midlothian Dental Practice, Associate Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Implantologist Edinburgh, UK; 4Private practitioner, The Dental House Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Consultant Orthodontist, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India; 5Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Aurobindo College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India; 6Department of Prosthodontics & Crown and Bridge, AL-Badar Rural Dental College & Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India; *Corresponding author
Vizaikumar Vasudha Nelluri - E-mail: nvasudha@yahoo.com
Richa Sahai - E-mail: dr.richasahai@gmail.com
Siddhant Uday Kator - E-mail: siddhant.kator804@gmail.com
Subhi Aliya - E-mail: dr.aliyaortho@gmail.com
Sanjana Moses - E-mail: drsanjanamoses@gmail.com
Pooja Sharanabasappa Nagoji - E-mail: nagojipooja0613@gmail.com
Article Type
Research Article
Date
Received July 1, 2026; Revised July 31, 2026; Accepted July 31, 2026, Published July 31, 2026
Abstract
Micro-gaps and preload loss at the implant-abutment interface remain major challenges affecting the long-term mechanical stability and biological success of two-piece dental implant systems. Therefore, it is of interest to compare the micro-gap and mechanical stability of three implant-abutment connection designs using 45 implant-abutment assemblies allocated to external hexagon, internal hexagon and Morse taper/conical groups (n=15 each) subjected to 500,000 cycles of oblique loading at 150 N. Post-loading analysis demonstrated a significant increase in micro-gap in all groups, with the external hexagon showing the greatest micro-gap (22.84 ± 3.91 µm) and reverse torque loss (31.18 ± 6.42%), whereas the Morse taper/conical connection exhibited the lowest micro-gap (8.92 ± 1.83 µm) and torque loss (13.76 ± 4.28%) (p < 0.001). Micromotion and survival outcomes also favored the Morse taper/conical design under cyclic loading conditions. Thus, Morse taper/conical implant-abutment connections showed superior interface adaptation and mechanical stability compared with external and internal hexagonal connection designs.
Keywords
Dental implants, implant-abutment interface, micro-gap, cyclic loading, screw loosening, Morse taper, mechanical stability
Citation
Nelluri et al. Bioinformation 22(7): 4134-4139 (2026)
Edited by
Hiroj Bagde
ISSN
0973-2063
Publisher
License
This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. This is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
