Management of perishing implants with abutment screw fracture – A systematic review

Abstract

Aim:

To systematically review the reported techniques, for evaluating the risk and difficulty encountered in the management of fractured abutment screw in accordance with the location of fracture, and to develop a logical sequence in managing an implant abutment screw fracture.

Settings and Design:

Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.

Materials and Methods:

A systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database for articles published between January 2000 and March 2020 was performed by 2 independent reviewers. Case reports and case series that described the management of fractured implant abutment screw were included. Published articles were qualitatively analyzed employing CARE guidelines and were classified according to the location of screw fracture with respect to implant platform, risk of damage to the implant, and intervention for managing the fractured screw.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Qualitative analyisis.

Results:

A total of 28 articles were included in the review. Two of them explained the management of screw fracture at or above the implant platform and required only mild approach with low risk while the others explained the management of screw fracture below the level of implant platform. Among them, 6 were considered mild approach with low risk, 13 moderate approach with moderate risk, and 8 of them severe approach with high risk.

Conclusion:

Irrespective of the technique, any attempt to retrieve abutment screw fragment poses some risk to the implant which is varying from mild to severe. As the location of fracture is more gingival to the implant platform, difficulty of retrieval as well as risk to the implant increases. The proposed decisionmaking tree will be a useful tool in helping clinicians to manage abutment screw fracture.

INTRODUCTION

Implantology has emerged as the most successful treatment modality for the replacement of missing teeth. This wide popularity enjoyed is mostly due to the fact that it eliminates the need for preparation of the adjacent teeth. On long-term functioning, success of an implant-retained or implant-supported prosthesis depends primarily on biological and mechanical factors.[1] The implant failure can be classified into early or late failures. Early failures occur immediately after implant placement and result in a lack of osseointegration whereas late failures occur after prosthetic rehabilitation and a period of function. Biological and mechanical complications are the two main causes of late implant failures. Biological complication is due to the loss of supporting tissues, secondary to infection or periimplantitis whereas mechanical complications arise as a result of loosening/or fracture of abutment or prosthetic screws and the wear and fracture of the prosthesis or various components in the system.[1,2] A recent study has shown that abutment screw loosening ranges between 7% and 11%, while the incidence of abutment screw fracture was found to be 0.6%.[3] Abutment screw loosening and fracture are one of the most serious and prevalent problems associated with the restorative aspect of dental implants. Inadequate biomechanical design and/or occlusal overloading are found to be the major contributing factors for screw loosening which eventually leads to fracture.[4] The management of fractured abutment screw is challenging and time-consuming and also poses various degrees of risk to implant and prosthesis, which must be analyzed.[5] When an abutment screw fractures, the aim of management is removal of the fragment without causing damage to internal threads of the implant and replacing the fractured one with a new one. Sometimes, it may not be possible and may require implant modifications to receive prosthesis. In such situations, some techniques cause irreversible damage to the implant components. The possible risk should be assessed before planning an intervention to salvage the implant and this intervention should always improve the prognosis. Different techniques are reported to manage abutment screw fracture, but literature that describes a structured approach for clinical management of abutment screw fracture is still limited. The purpose of this article is to review the various retrieval techniques and to extract a methodical approach in managing fractured abutment screw.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Protocol and registration

This systematic review was performed and reported according to the guidelines prescribed by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines (Moher et al. 2010).

Target question

How will you methodically approach and manage an abutment screw fracture with minimal damage to the implant?

Review question

The following PICO question was used to frame search strategy:

• Population: Patients with fractured implant abutment screw

• Intervention: Retrieval of the fractured abutment screw without impairing the implant survival

• Comparison: Risk of damage to implants with different techniques employed for retrieving fractured abutment screw in accordance with location of fracture.

Primary outcomes

To evaluate the risk and difficulty encountered in the management of fractured abutment screw in accordance with the location of fracture, i.e., at, above, or below the implant platform.

Secondary outcomes

To develop a logical sequence in managing implant abutment screw fracture.

Information sources

All studies reporting on the management of perishing implants with abutment screw fracture were searched in online electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar). Relevant publications which were not accessible online were hand searched. Other sources such as online search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.), online research community websites (https://www.researchgate.net/), and reference cross-checks were all assessed for generating a maximum pool of relevant studies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

1. Case reports and case series explaining clinical management of fractured abutment screw of single or multiple unit implant-supported prosthesis with follow-up time up to 6 years

2. Techniques for salvaging implants with abutment screw fracture

3. Restoration type ranging from implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis to implant-retained complete denture.

Exclusion criteria

1. Case reports of implant-abutment connections other than internal hexagon or external hexagon

2. Case reports which failed to attain successful rehabilitation of implants with abutment screw fracture

3. Techniques involving management of fracture of implant components other than abutment screw

4. Review articles

5. Irrelevant articles.

Search strategy

The two investigators performed the searches based on the identified medical subject headings (MeSH) search terms “abutment screw,” “fractured,” “broken,” “damaged,” “unsalvageable,” “screw retrieval,” “screw complication,” “implant,” and “dental implant “ as dictated by the search design and strategy. The terms were then applied using the appropriate Boolean operators, “OR” or “AND,” to perform the search in the databases and the filters set ((Language – English, Species – Human, Journal categories – Dental journals) while performing the searches in the above-mentioned databases. The search was performed from January 2000 to March 2020.

Data extraction and analysis

The investigators initially assessed the search results by a thorough title and abstract screening. After the initial assessment, the shortlisted studies were included for a full-text analysis only after a mutual agreement between the two investigators. Disagreements, if present, were resolved by a consensus meeting with the third investigator. The final list was mutually agreed upon by the two investigators before data extraction. Data extraction was performed independently by both investigators and was reciprocally blinded. The investigators used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for tabulating the extracted information. The following parameters were extracted from the included studies: authors' names, year of publication, study design, location in the arch, abutment material/type, restoration material, location of fractured abutment screw at, above, or below the platform of the implant, technique, and different retrieval methodologies. The outcome was not evaluated according to the prosthetic rehabilitation.

Risk of bias and quality assessment of the included studies

Risk of bias was assessed in the included case reports and case series using ROBIS (Risk Of Bias In Systematic reviews) tool for systematic reviews.[6] The case reports and case series were assessed using the recommended checklist for report writing following CARE guidelines. The reports were analyzed based on the 13 item checklist, and subsequently, a score was assigned to the report. Thus, each report was assessed out of the total score of 13.

Summary measures

The primary outcome set for this review was to evaluate the risk and difficulty encountered in accordance with the location of fractured abutment screw at, above, or below the platform of the implant. Secondary outcome measures targeted in developing a logical sequence and technique for managing an implant abutment screw fracture.

RESULTS

Study selection and characteristics

The details of the search and selection processes are described in the PRISMA flow diagram [Figure 1]. The systematic database search yielded a total of 642 eligible studies. From this total, 535 studies were eliminated after an initial title and abstract screening, thus identifying a total of 107 studies for full-text analysis; 55 studies were shortlisted for inclusion in the review. After reference cross-checks and hand searches, 35 studies were shortlisted for a final evaluation. A reapplication of the inclusion and exclusion criteria was performed to this final list resulting in a further elimination of 7 studies. Finally, a total of 28 methodologically sound publications were included in this review for statistical analyses. The list of studies included for analyses comprised of 27 case reports and 1 case series. Tables 1 and 2 show the characteristics of the included studies.

Figure 1.

PRISMA flow chart

Table 1.

Screw retrieval techniques for fracture at or above the platform of the implant

Mild approach with low risk
Author and year	Study design and title	Location in arch	Abutment material/type	Restoration material	Technique andretrieval methodology
Barbosa et al., 2014[7]	DescriptiveThe cotton driver: An alternative technique for removing fractured screw fragments	Not available	Titanium abutment	Not available	Modified cotton swabPressing the cotton swab into the implant head and twist the fractured abutment screw slowly counter clockwise
Yang and Wu 2019[8]	DescriptiveA technique to retrieve a fractured implant abutment screw by using a screwdriver fashioned from a needle	Not available	Prefabricated Titanium abutment	Not available	Modified hypodermic needleAppropriate sized needle is bending to form screwdriver. After engaging the fractured end, turned counter clockwise for removal

Table 2.

Screw retrieval techniques for fracture below the platform of the implant

Author and year	Study design and title	Location in arch	Abutment type/material	Restoration material	Technique and retrieval methodology
Mild approach with low risk
Fauvell et al., 2006[9]	DescriptiveThe lumen technique. Retrieval of broken goldscrews in dental implants	Not available	Not available	Not available	Instrument modificationAn applicator tip was seated with apical pressure in implant fixture, wedged it between implant and screw surface and then counterturned to retrieve the retention screw
Satterthwaite and Rickman, 2008[10]	DescriptiveRetrieval of a fractured abutment screw thread from an implant: a case report	Anterior maxillaMaxillary central incisor	Esthetic abutment	Not available	Visualization and basic instrumentationVisualized through a clinical microscope and fragment was removed using endodontic instruments
Bhandari et al., 2013[11]	DescriptiveUltrasonic oscillations for conservative retrieval of a rare fracture of implant healing abutment	Posterior mandibleMandibular first and second molars	Healing abutment	Porcelain fused to metal	OscillationsPiezoelectric ultrasonic scaler tip in a gentle reverse torque was employed for abutment screw retrieval
Chen and Cho, 2018[12]	DescriptiveAn accessory technique for the intraoral removal of a fractured implant abutment screw	Posterior maxillaMaxillary second Premolar	Not available	Porcelain fused to metal	Ultrasonic oscillationPerformed with a combination of ultrasonic device and a dental restoration holder
Azpiazu-Flores and Lee, 202013]	DescriptiveUsing the screw shank as a retrieval tool: A straightforward approach to removing screws with diagonal fractures	Anterior mandibleMandibular central incisors	Not available	Not available	Basic instrumentation with screw shankAfter engaging the shank mounted in hexagon driver with fractured screw it is rotated counter clockwise.
Moderate approach with moderate risk
Luterbacher et al., 2000[14]	DescriptiveFractured prosthetic abutments in osseointegrated implants: A technical complication to cope with	Anterior mandibleMandibular anterior teeth	Prefabricated Titanium abutment	Porcelain fused to metal	Screw modificationRepair set of the ITI Dental Implant System is used to retrieve the fragment. The service set consists of burs, tap sets of three instruments, drill guides etc.
Williamson and Robinson, 2001[15]	DescriptiveRetrieval technique for fractured implant screws	Not available	Not available	Not available	Screw modificationA groove was made on the surface of the screw with ¼ round bur and number 1 round bur is modified to be used as a screwdriver
Nergiz et al., 2004[16]	DescriptiveRemoval of a fractured implant abutment screw: A clinical report	Anterior mandibleMandibular canines	Magnetic implant abutment	Magnet retained acrylic overdenture	Screw modificationAbutment screw was retrieved using repair kit (IMZ Twin Plus Repair Set). First, fragment was perforated and achieved retention to unscrew it
Reyhanian et al., 2010[17]	DescriptiveThe use of the Er: YAG in laser-assisted broken abutment screw treatment	Anterior maxillaMaxillary central incisor	Prefabricated Titanium abutment	Not available	Laser and screw modificationLaser is used for exposing implant platform, ablate granulation tissue and for decontamination. Screw is retrieved after modifying with surgical drill
Yilmaz and McGlumphy, 2011[18]	DescriptiveA technique to retrieve fractured implant screw	Not available	Not available	Not available	Screw modificationStainless steel fork shaped instrument is used in slow-speed hand piece for screw retrieval
Walia et al., 2012[19]	DescriptiveRemoval of fractured dental implant screw using a new technique: A case report	Posterior mandibleMandibular first molar	Prefabricated Titanium abutment	Not available	Screw modification and oscillationsNotch made on the fragment and ultrasonic scaler tip is moved in counter clockwise direction to retrieve implant abutment screw
Yohsuke and Sawase, 2012[20]	DescriptiveA modified technique for removing a failed abutment screw from an implant with a custom guide tube	Anterior maxillaMaxillary central incisors	Angled abutment	Metal with resin veneering	Screw modification through a custom made guide tubeFailed abutment screw is modified with a high speed air-turbine and the tungsten carbide bur was insertedthrough the guide tube
Kurt et al., 2013[21]	DescriptiveA Technique for Removal of a Fractured ImplantAbutment Screw	Anterior mandibleMandibular canine	Ball attachment	Implant-supported acrylic overdenture	Screw modification with modified bursGroove on the fractured screw with modified flame shaped bur and a handmade screw driver with tungsten carbide bur
Satwalekar et al., 2013[22]	DescriptiveA simple and cost-effective method used for removal of a fractured implant abutment screw: A case report	Posterior mandibleMandibular first Premolar	Titanium abutment	Not available	Screw modification and custom made screw driverA groove was made on the upper end of the broken screw using an airotor and a modified spoon excavator was used as screw driver
Gooty et al., 2014[23]	DescriptiveNoninvasive method for retrieval of broken dental implant abutment screw	Posterior mandibleMandibular first molar	Prefabricated titanium abutment	Not available	Screw modification and oscillationsDeep pit made on the fragment and an ultrasonic tip was engaged in counter clockwise direction
Carneiro et al., 2016[24]	DescriptiveA conservative approach to retrieve a fractured abutment screw – A case report	Posterior mandible	Abutment screw with diamond-likecarbon DLCcoating	Not available	Screw modification through titanium guide sleeveTitanium guide sleeve guided-drilling of the fractured screw and re-tapping the implant internal threads with a retapping tool
Yoon et al., 2016[25]	DescriptiveSafe removal of a broken abutment screw with customized drill guide and rotary instrument: A Clinical Report	Posterior mandibleMandibular second molar	Prefabricated Titanium abutment	Porcelain fused to metal	Screw modification through a custom made guide tubeAn access hole on top of the broken screw made through a customized drill guide which was fabricated from an implant impression coping
Flanagan, 2016[26]	DescriptiveManagement of a fractured implant abutment screw	Posterior maxilla (Maxillary first premolar)Posterior maxillaAnterior mandible (Mandibular canine)	Prefabricated titanium abutments	Not availableAcrylic maxillary overdentureAcrylic mandibular overdenture	Screw modificationFragment removal is accomplished with festooned #557 bur in counter clockwise rotation and #33 1/3 bur in clockwise rotation
Severe approach with high risk
Pipko et al., 2004[27]	DescriptiveRetrofitting a cast dowel-core on salvaged dental implant	Anterior mandibleMandibular central incisor	Titanium abutment	Not available	Implant modificationRemoval is accomplishedby using number 2 and number 4 friction grip carbide bur and an accurate cast dowel core is retrofitted into the implant
Pow and Wat, 2006[28]	DescriptiveA technique for salvaging an implant-supported crown with a fractured abutment screw	Posterior mandibleMandibular first molar	Not available	Not available	Implant modificationFractured end is removed and elimination of the internal threads were done with rotary cutting instrument followed by postcore crown
Maalhagh-fard and Jacobs, 2010[29]	DescriptiveRetrieval of a stripped abutment screw: A clinical report	Anterior maxillaMaxillary central incisor	Titanium abutments	Not available	Implant and screw modificationA trough is made betweenabutment head and internal aspect of implant to facilitate abutment screw accessibility and retrieval is accomplished using fine forceps
Yilmaz and McGlumphy, 2013[30]	DescriptiveA technique to salvage a single implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis having a nonretrievable implant screw fragment	Not available	Prefabricated titanium abutment	Not available	Implant modificationA flat stainless steel washer with a new implant screw was employed to rehabilitate the implant
Canpolat et al., 2014[31]	DescriptiveManagement of a Fractured Implant Abutment Screw: A Clinical Report	Anterior mandibleMandibular canine	Ball attachment	Implant-supported acrylic mandibular overdenture	Implant modificationInterior of the implant and the fractured screw were machined with high speed hand piece and a custom made cast dowel with ball attachment for rehabilitation
Gupta et al., 2014[32]	DescriptiveA new restorative technique for the perishing implantdue to abutment screw fracture	Posterior mandibleMandibular first molar	Prefabricated titanium abutment	Not available	Implant modificationFractured screw was removed with high speed hand piece and a custom made cast post is fabricated
Harshakumar et al., 2014[33]	DescriptiveSalvaging an implant with abutment screw fracture by a custom titanium post and core supported prosthesis - A novel technique	Anterior maxillaMaxillary central incisor	Prefabricated titanium abutment	Not available	Implant modificationInternal threads and the fractured screw were removed using tungsten carbide bur and titanium cast post for rehabilitation
Shah and Lee, 2016[34]	DescriptiveAn alternative approach for the management of fractured implant abutment screws on a mandibular implant - retained overdenture: A clinical report	Anterior mandibleMandibular canine	Locator abutments	Implant-supported acrylic mandibular overdenture	Implant modification and laser weldingScrew chamber converted into a dowel space for a dowel-core and locator bar attachments were laser welded into the cast custom made abutments

Risk of bias/quality assessment of the included studies

Risk of bias assessment was done using ROBIS tool for studies included in the systematic review. The tool is completed in 3 phases: (1) assess relevance (optional), (2) identify concerns with the review process, and (3) judge risk of bias in the review. Signaling questions were included to help assess specific concerns about potential biases within the review. The ratings from these signaling questions helped assessors to judge overall risk of bias. All signaling questions were rated as “Yes” or “Probably Yes,” and hence, a low risk of bias was identified. The review processes of data collection and study appraisal are therefore unlikely to have introduced bias into this review [Figure 2]. Although the case reports, case series, and reported techniques included in this systematic review compared different retrieval methodologies in mild, moderate, or severe risk cases of implant abutment screw fracture, a meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of the data between the included studies. The 28 methodologically sound publications were qualitatively assessed using CARE guidelines, and the mean quality score of the papers was 11.29 ± 0.71.

Figure 2.

Graphical representation of ROBIS from multiple reviews

Statistical analysis

The overall Kappa scores calculated using the GraphPad Prism software (Version 11, San Diego, California, USA) from extracted data by the two investigators were found to be 0.78 indicating an substantiate degree of inter-investigator agreement.

Dicussion

The first step in managing any fractured screw is to obtain a detailed history and perform a thorough clinical examination. Every attempt should be made to determine the cause of the screw fracture to minimize the risk of subsequent complications. In most of the cases, abutment screw loosening preceded the fracture of the same. The etiology is multifactorial and can range from inadequate treatment plan and design, component misfit, inadequate screw tightening, excessive loading, and/or inadequate screw design.[35] Inadequate treatment design and planning can attributed to patient assessment and insufficient number and location of implants. Patient parameters such as age and sex can have an influence on the prevalence of screw loosening and fracture. The included case reports and case series showed sex predilection for males and age wise for the elderly (50–65 years) and were in accordance with the previous study conducted by Lee et al.[36] Literature shows that the incidence of screw fracture is more frequent in posterior region compared to anterior.[3] In the present study involving case reports and case series, incidence of abutment screw fracture in the anterior region was more prevalent than the posterior region. This may be due to esthetic concern and frequency in seeking treatment in the case of anteriors. Usually, in terms of retention, a higher incidence of screw loosening has been observed in screw-retained implant prostheses than cement-retained implant prostheses. Single crowns are more prone to screw loosening followed by cantilever bridges, splinted crowns, and implant-retained overdenture.[36]

The types of abutments included in this study were prefabricated metallic ones which comprise straight abutments, angled abutments, ball with locator abutment, multiunit abutment, and anatomic/esthetic abutment. The restorative materials metal-ceramic and zirconia-based all ceramic were included in the study.

After assessing the reason for fracture, the next step is to confirm that the screw is fractured and to determine the location of the fracture. Fractures mostly occur at the junction of the screw head and screw shank or at the junction of the screw shank and screw thread.[20,37] Screw fracture may be confirmed by direct visualization, radiographic examination, tactile sensation through the use of an instrument, comparison with an undamaged screw of the same system, or by using other undamaged components of the same system to see if an obstruction is prohibiting complete seating. If the restoration has been missing for an extended period, the periimplant soft tissue may overgrow, making access to and visualization of the implant difficult. In this situation, a low-frequency diode laser is ideal to trim the tissue, since the scratching of the implant surface with surgical blade or scalpel has to be avoided. The use of an electrosurgery unit should be avoided to expose the implant platform since it causes heat transfer within the implant. Other techniques that may help to improve visualization include the use of dental loupes with a coaxial or light-emitting diode headlamp or a dental surgical microscope, especially in situations with deep screw fracture.[21,38]

Management of abutment screw fracture is challenging since the preloading and occlusal loading could wedge the fractured abutment into the implant and require high pull-out force. Saliva, blood, and the limited visibility make it difficult to access.[39] In this situation, initial treatment in the form of conservative retrieval is always the first and most preferable option. Sometimes, it may not prove successful, then we have to consider other options. The uncertainty in decision on type of treatment and sequence of treatment make it more arduous. Therefore, the formation of a decision tree can be useful in managing situations that range from routine to highly complex. This review highlights the need of a decision-making tree on the basis of risk and difficulty involved, in relation to the various reported techniques for managing fractured screws.[40] Application of the proposed decision-making tree may allow for a logical and structured approach in managing fractured abutment screws [Figure 3]. According to the proposed decision-making tree, methods employed to grasp the broken fragments or screw are determined by the location of the fracture abutment – above or below the head of the implant.

Figure 3.

Decision making tree

If an abutment screw fractures above the head of the implant, an explorer, a straight probe, or hemostat might be successful.[7,8] The tip of the instrument is moved carefully in a counter-clockwise direction over the surface of the screw segment until it loosens. In the case of abutment screw fracture below the implant platform as well, the first choice of intervention is use of rigid instruments such as a scaler, sickle explorer, or endodontic explorer in the same fashion.[9,10,13] Care must be taken to avoid instrument tip breakage. Sometimes, even if the screw gets loosened, it may be difficult to remove it completely out of the fixture, then the use of a cotton swab might be helpful to pull out the fragment.[7] Oblique fractures may be easier to manage with this technique because a purchase point usually exists in which the instrument can be engaged. Ultrasonic oscillation assisted by hand instruments is an accessory method to remove a fractured abutment screw fragment which is not possible with hand instruments alone.[11,12] Thin scaler tips in counter-clockwise oscillation may be helpful to back out the fragment, but care should be taken to avoid wedging of the screw into the implant. These are mild approaches which pose only low risk since it will not damage internal threads of the implant and will not increase temperature which affects bone around it.

If the fractured abutment screw fragment is not possible to remove with hand instruments or combination of ultrasonic oscillation and hand instruments, other options must be considered. Burs or drills mounted on a handpiece in counter-clockwise rotation may unwind the fragment. Sometimes, access points or grooves are created on the occlusal aspect of fragment for the mechanical interlocking of scaler tip or customized screwdrivers made from burs or instruments.[15,16,17,18,21,22,26] Furthermore, burs or drills may be modified to avoid damage to internal threads of the implant and better engagement. Screw modification with rotary instruments drilling should be performed intermittently at a reduced speed and under copious irrigation to avoid thermal damage to the surrounding bone. Fabrication of custom-made drill guides employing a high-speed air turbine or a high-speed micro-motor handpiece ensures protection of the internal threads against drilling.[20,25] There are several available implant repair kits including ITI® Dental Implant System (Institut Straumann AG, Switzerland), IMZ® TwinPlus Implant System1 (DENTSPLY Friadent, Germany), Screw Removal Kit Replace (Nobel Biocare™, Yorba Linda, California, USA), and Certain® Screw Removal Kit (Biomet 3i™, Florida, USA31). The application of these systems is to permit a hole to be drilled into the center of the broken screw and drive a removal wedge into the hole that engages the broken screw when reverse torque is applied by removing the instrument.[14]

If all the attempts of mild and moderate approach have failed and the internal aspect is significantly damaged, the clinician may choose either to remove the implant and replace it with a new one or abandon the implant and cover it with soft tissue. Many patients may not prefer replacement with new implant since it is an expensive option and require surgical procedures. Abandoning the implant and covering it with soft tissue may lead to compromised function, phonation, or esthetics. Intentional modification of the implant may be necessary to keep the implant serviceable. In cases where irretrievable screw fragment is drilled out, attempts can be made to retap the internal threads to salvage the implant.

If implant's screw threads have been damaged irreversibly and the patient is still unwilling to sacrifice the implant, it is possible to fabricate a custom cast post and core for the implant.[27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34] These techniques generally start with the removal of remaining screw fragment, followed by removal of the internal threads of the implant by using a diamond rotary instrument or tungsten carbide bur in a high-speed handpiece under copious irrigation. Pattern for casting can either be made directly on the prepared implant or indirectly on a stone cast. The pattern is then cast using nickel-or cobalt-chromium alloys, although other types of metal alloys have also been reported. Once the seating of the custom cast post and core has been confirmed, it can be cemented. The appropriate restoration can then be fabricated following conventional prosthodontic protocols. This technique has a few disadvantages such as weakening of the implant body and excessive heat production during cutting of the fractured screw; hence, it is last choice of management.

Prevention is better than cure, and the correct measures should be taken to ensure that screw fracture does not happen. Abutment screw loosening preceded the fracture of the same. For prevention of screw loosening and fracture, clinician should know mechanics of abutment screw. A screw is tightened by applying a torque and it develops a force within the screw called the preload. Elastic recovery of the screw pulls the two parts together, creating a clamping force. The preload in the screw, from elongation and elastic recovery, is equal in magnitude to the clamping force.[41] Preload depends on the torque applied, material, and design of the screw, and surface roughness.[42] Joint separating forces and settling effect cause loosening of initially tightened screw by making loss of preload. Intraoral separating forces include off-axis occlusal contacts, parafunctional forces, and nonpassive frameworks that attach to the implants. Once external forces exceed the screw joint preload, the joint becomes unstable whereas settling occurs as the rough spots flatten under load, since they are the only contacting surfaces when the initial tightening torque is applied. It has been reported that 2% to 10% of the initial preload is lost as a result of settling.[41] It is recommended in clinical practice that to reduce the settling effect, abutment screws should be retightened 10 min after the initial torque application.[42,43] Mechanical torque gauges should be used instead of hand drivers to ensure a consistent tightening of the implant components to recommended torque values.[41] Joint separating or bending forces can be minimized by placing the implants perpendicular to the occlusal plane and frameworks with minimal cantilever lengths. Furthermore, the use of implant components with anti-rotational features and low tolerance levels for component misfit will help in reducing the abutment screw loosening and further complications.[44]

The limitations of the present study include (a) the study was not able to review all the relevant literature, (b) the study attempted to identify those publications relevant for our purpose, (c) publication bias, and (d) over interpretation of case series and case reports dealt with could be a limiting factor.

CONCLUSION

Within the limitations of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:

1. Irrespective of the technique, any attempt to retrieve abutment screw fragment poses a certain risk to the implant which varies from mild to severe. Twenty-five percent of the case reports used a mild approach that involved the use of hand instruments or combination of hand instruments and ultrasonic oscillation. This technique produces only minimal damage to the implant such as abrading of the implant surface. Forty-five percent of the case reports used a moderate approach that involved the use of retrieval kits and modified burs. This technique produces damage to internal threads of the implant. Remaining case reports used high-risk approach that involved the modification of implant itself. This technique may lead to implant body weakening and damage to surrounding bone

2. As the location of fracture is more gingival to the implant platform, difficulty of retrieval as well as risk to the implant increases. Irrespective of the location, more conservative approach should be attempted first, before considering invasive procedures

3. The proposed decision-making tree will be a useful tool in guiding the clinicians for the management of abutment screw fracture and successful rehabilitation of the implant

4. More extensive studies are needed to propose the most appropriate technique in a particular clinical situation for the retrieval of fractured abutment screw.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.