ABSTRACT
The screws that attach the column, abutment or implant suprastructure to the implant through a threaded joint are called retaining screws. The stability of the implant-pillar connection is an important factor for the maintenance of the bone crest, and the retaining screw is a fundamental element of this connection. Although the design of the head and its section have evolved from a grooved shape to hexagonal, square and star shapes, there are no studies evaluating the wear and deformation of the retaining screw head section after torque application. In this sense, 4 titanium alloy screws and 4 gold-plated titanium alloy screws with different tightening protocols were evaluated and analyzed by microcomputed tomography (microCT). The results suggest that high torque values and successive grips deform the screw head regardless of the alloy.
