Screw Vent Implants: How Do I Remove the Abutments?

Dr. H. asks:
I have inherited a patient with 6 Screw Vent dental implants. I need to remove the TSF abutments which I thought were only held in by abutment screws. But after removing the abutment screws, the abutments were still solidly bound to the implants. Are these abutments cold welded to the implant fixtures when they are torqued down? If so, what instrument can I use to separate the abutments form the implants?

5 Comments on Screw Vent Implants: How Do I Remove the Abutments?

New comments are currently closed for this post.
Laura Fuller CDT
11/24/2008
Dear Dr. H, If you have a TFS screw the abutmant you have is a TSI abutment and to remove this it take a 1.77 hex tool. We here at Zimmer do have an insert for the torque wrench...part number TWHX1.77. If I can answer any more question please feel free to call me at 800-854-6019 ext 4253. Laura
Dr.Serge
11/24/2008
I think the problem of Dr.H is that he removed the screws of the abutment and the abutment is still in place. In Screw vent implants and in all zimmer implants, abutments have a friction fit that means that even when the screw is removed there is always a friction and the abutment is held in place. i will explain you as much as i can what to do: Dr.H,after removing your screw take your torque wrench and place it on your abutment or put your torque wrench on the appropriate tool entering the abutment hole( i don't have the codes in mind).Make a small and gentle screwing move for your abutment before making a gentle unscrewing move( remember your implants are osseointegrated), this will liberate your abutment... If it is still held in place contact your zimmer representative who will assist you in this minor problem which i consider a major advantage in abutment stability...
Dr. Gerald Rudick
11/25/2008
Screw Vent Dental implants were a model developed by Dr. Gerald Niznick many years ago from his original CoreVent complany, and still exist today with Zimmer or Implants Direct. These are internally hexed implants, which had the advantage of using the hex portion as an antirotational device as well as creating a "cold weld" by virtue of the Morse taper on the abutment being seated by screwing down into place. With time, saliva and other organic materials would seep into the joint a cause corrosion that would really bond the components together. The hole in the abutment through which the fixation screw passes, has a section of it that is internally machine with threads.These threads are identical to the threads in the implant body and prevent the screw from dropping out of the abutment when it is loose.The internal threads in the abutment also serve to engage the retrieval screw to separate the components. The titanium retrieval screw has an internal hex to fit your screw driver, and the thread on this screw is is in the middle, unlike a fixation or connecting screw which has its threads on the end. When you put the retreival screw through the hole in the abutment, the threads will engage the threads in the abutment, and as you rotate clockwise, the unthreaded portion will push through into the implant body and jack the two pieces apart. Do not try to tap, torque or force otherwise, as you can damage or break the thin metal of the implant forming the walls for the internal hex. I have several of these screws which are available through Medigma Technologies in Israel, and I will be happy to lend you one to accomplish procedure.Call me at 514-342-4444. Gerald Rudick dds Montreal, Canada
Dennis Nimchuk
11/25/2008
You need an abutment removing tool which as it bottoms out when screwing it into the screw hole, will then separate the abutment like a charm. Contact Zimmer for one.
Normand
5/7/2009
I'm looking for two ts1-6 abutment. I ask to Zimmer and some others but no results.Can you help me to find it? thank you Y. Normand Quebec

Featured Products

OsteoGen Bone Grafting Plug
Combines bone graft with a collagen plug to yield the easiest and most affordable way to clinically deliver bone graft for socket preservation.
CevOss Bovine Bone Graft
Make the switch to a better xenograft! High volume of interconnected pores promotes new bone. Substantially equivalent to BioOss and NuOss.