title: A measurement of torque values obtained with hand-held drivers in a simulated clinical setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study measures the amount of torque that can be applied to the heads of implant screws via hand-held drivers and wrenches in a simulated clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty second-year dental students applied their maximum controlled torque to the head of a hex instrument attached to a Tonichi torque gauge mounted in a mannequin. The torque values obtained were recorded, and a mean torque value was calculated RESULTS; The mean torque value obtained in this study was 11.55 N.cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small-diameter, 10 N.cm gold screws can be adequately tightened with manufacturer-supplied instrumentation. Larger screws requiring more than 10 N.cm of torque cannot be tightened manually using currently available hand-held screwdrivers and hand wrenches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dellinges
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Tebrock
mesh_terms: D015921:Dental Implants; D003762:Dental Instruments; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D008422:Materials Testing; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants