Types of Dental Torque Wrenches
- Manual mechanical torque wrench
- Toggle torque wrenches
- Beam wrenches with a dial indicator
Surgical Motor and Torque Wrenches
- Surgical motor as an electronic controlled torque-limiting device
- Motor or pneumatic torque wrenches used in high precision areas
- Calibration before every use and in case of breakage or loss of calibration
Calibration of Dental Torque Wrenches
- Deviations of 10% or higher from desired torque values
- Regular recalibration with a torque tester restores required torque values
- Calibration ensures accurate torque application
- Regular calibration necessary for torque wrenches used in dental implants
Re-torquing of Fasteners
- Settling effect causing a decrease of around 10% in torque over time
- Re-torquing after 10 minutes reduces settling effect
- Parts get more seated with re-torquing
- Importance of re-torquing to ensure proper tightening
Wet and Dry Torque
- Wet torques (bolts lubricated with saliva) have higher mean torque than dry torques
- Lubrication with saliva affects torque values
- Dry torques refer to unlubricated bolts
- Wet torques provide higher torque values due to lubrication
- Lubrication of bolts affects torque measurement
A dental torque wrench or restorative torque wrench is a torque wrench used to precisely apply a specific torque to a fastener bolt for fixation of an abutment, dentures or prosthetics on a dental implant.
