Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies a test method for measuring the forces needed for the placement and removal of dental attachments (frictional retention elements of ball head-, snap-on, prefabricated telescopic and bar systems used for the attachment, support and stabilization of crowns and bridges, single attachments, removable partial dentures, complete dentures, and other superstructures on dental implant systems and, if not other justified, on natural teeth and root post copings).

If not otherwise justified, this document can also be used for tests on custom-made or patient matched devices (e.g. laboratory manufactured).

This test method is not applicable to retention devices for which normal placement and removal requires any off-axis rotation for the path of least resistance. This test method is not applicable to dental magnetic attachments, these are specified in ISO 13017.

Purpose

Due to a steady increase in the aging population, prosthetic reconstructive treatment of the periodontium is of great interest. Currently, implant-retained removable prostheses are used widely in dentistry. However, the most common problem associated with their use is the loss or decrease of retention over time, caused by wear, deformation, and fracture of the components of the implant attachment system. This loss is related to repeated placement and removal of the prosthesis. The period of time over which the retentive force of an implant attachment system is effective is of clinical significance. This International Standard describes a test procedure for measuring the retention an insertion forces of implant attachment systems during their repeated simulated functional assembly and disassembly.