The Straumann torque value for a final abutment is 35 Ncm, and 15 Ncm for occlusal screws. This lab reference sets out abutment and screw torque values by system and how we support correct seating.
Torque is where a clean restoration is either secured or quietly compromised. Under-torque a screw and it loosens in function. Over-torque it and you risk stripping the threads or fracturing the screw inside the implant. We build every restoration to seat at the manufacturer value, and this page is the reference we work from across the cases we receive at our implant restoration lab.
Why Torque Matters for the Restoration
Every implant connection has a recommended torque the manufacturer has validated for that screw and that interface. Hitting it generates the preload that keeps the screw joint stable under chewing load. Miss it in either direction and the joint behaves differently from the day the case was designed.
- Under-torque: insufficient preload, so the screw works loose, the crown rotates or unseats, and the patient returns with a clicking or mobile restoration.
- Over-torque: the screw yields past its elastic limit, threads strip, or the screw fractures inside the implant, which is a far harder problem to retrieve than a simple loosening.
- Wrong driver or worn tip: torque reads correctly on the wrench but the engagement is poor, so the real preload at the joint is off.
The number on the wrench is only meaningful when the abutment is fully seated, the screw channel is clean, and the driver fully engages. A restoration that does not seat passively will never torque to value honestly, which is why marginal fit at the lab stage decides what happens chairside.
Insertion Torque vs Prosthetic Torque
Two different numbers get called torque, and confusing them causes most of the questions we field. Insertion torque is the resistance recorded as the implant is driven into bone at placement. Prosthetic torque is what you apply to the abutment or screw afterwards. They are not interchangeable.
- Insertion torque: a measure of primary stability at placement. Clinicians typically look for at least 35 Ncm to consider immediate loading, while values below roughly 30 Ncm often point to a delayed, unloaded healing period.
- Prosthetic torque: the fixed manufacturer value you apply to a final abutment or screw, for example 35 Ncm for most Straumann final abutments and 15 Ncm for occlusal screws.
When this page lists a torque value, it means the prosthetic value, the one that matters once the restoration we make is ready to seat.
Straumann Torque Values
Straumann publishes prosthetic torque values per component rather than one blanket figure. The values below reflect the current Straumann documentation for Bone Level, Bone Level Tapered, BLX and Tissue Level connections. Always confirm against the instruction-for-use sheet that ships with the part.
- Final abutment to implant: 35 Ncm, applied with the SCS screwdriver and torque wrench.
- Occlusal screw, screw-retained crown or bridge: 15 Ncm.
- Screw-retained abutment, provisional seating: 15 Ncm for the provisional, then the final value per the component sheet.
- Multi-unit abutment to implant: torqued to 25 Ncm.
- Closure screws, healing caps and healing abutments: hand tight, not set to a numeric torque.
BLX and TLX implant lines can accept higher insertion torque at placement because of their tapered design, but the prosthetic torque on the abutment screw stays at the documented value. Higher is not better at the restorative stage.
Common Torque Values Across Systems
When you send mixed cases, we keep a reference for each system rather than assuming one figure fits all. The table below covers the values we see most often. Treat it as a starting point and verify the exact component, because narrow, regular and wide platforms within one brand can differ.
- Straumann: final abutment 35 Ncm, occlusal screw 15 Ncm, multi-unit abutment 25 Ncm.
- Nobel Biocare: most final abutment and prosthetic screws at 35 Ncm, with Multi-unit and certain components at 15 Ncm. Confirm per line, as NobelActive, NobelParallel and brand connections vary.
- Dentsply Sirona Astra Tech: abutment screws commonly 20 to 25 Ncm depending on the platform, lower than the Straumann figure, so do not carry one habit across to the other.
- Zimmer Biomet: abutment screws commonly around 30 Ncm, prosthetic screws lower.
- MIS, Megagen and other systems: values are platform specific. We match the instruction-for-use sheet for the exact connection you supply.
These are reference values, not a substitute for the manufacturer instruction-for-use that accompanies each component.
Abutment Torque vs Screw Torque
On a cement-retained case there is usually one screw, the abutment screw, and it carries the higher value. On a screw-retained case the picture is layered, and people often torque the wrong screw to the wrong number.
- Abutment screw: the screw that connects the abutment to the implant. This is the higher value, typically 35 Ncm on Straumann final abutments.
- Prosthetic or occlusal screw: the screw that holds the crown or bridge onto the abutment or multi-unit abutment. This is the lower value, typically 15 Ncm.
- Sequence on multi-unit work: seat and torque the abutment to the implant first at its value, then secure the prosthesis to the abutment at the screw value.
We mark the screw type and target value on the case documentation we return with screw-retained work, so the chairside team is not cross-referencing a brochure under time pressure.
Seating, Driver Engagement and Common Errors
A correct number means nothing if the conditions are wrong. The most frequent reasons a torqued joint still fails are mechanical, not arithmetic, and they all trace back to seating and engagement.
- Incomplete seating: soft tissue, residual cement or a misaligned abutment stops the parts mating, so the wrench clicks early on a joint that is not actually closed.
- Worn or wrong driver: a rounded SCS or hex tip slips in the screw head, the torque reads true at the handle but the joint never reaches preload.
- No torque wrench: hand tightening a final screw is guesswork, usually well under target. Final values need a calibrated wrench.
- Skipping the re-torque: settling occurs in the first minutes after seating. A second torque to value after a short pause restores the preload lost to settling.
If a screw will not reach value or keeps backing off, stop. That is a fit or component problem to diagnose, not a number to force.
How the Lab Supports Correct Seating
Torque is applied chairside, but most of what makes it honest is decided in the lab. Passive fit, a clean machined interface and clear documentation are what let the screw reach value and stay there. We design to those points on every case.
- Passive fit: we build the framework or crown to seat without strain, because a case that is forced into place loads the screw before you ever touch the wrench.
- Genuine or validated interfaces: the connection geometry has to match the implant exactly, so we work from the components and abutments documented for your system rather than improvising a fit. See our notes on abutments and components.
- Verified scans: we accept files from 3Shape, Medit, iTero and Dexis, and we check scan body and implant position before designing, since a wrong library means a joint that never seats cleanly.
- Documented torque target: we return the screw type and recommended value with the case so nothing is guessed at delivery.
For full-arch and screw-retained restorations the same discipline carries through the framework. You can read how we handle these in our guide to implant-supported prosthetics.
Sending an Implant Case to Flora
Send us the implant system and exact connection, the platform diameter, and whether the case is cement-retained or screw-retained. Add an intraoral scan or impression with a scan body, and tell us the restoration you want. We confirm the components and the torque target before we build.
- Accreditations: we are a DAMAS, DLA and GDC registered laboratory.
- Turnaround: around 10 working days for crown and bridge, with implant cases scheduled to the components in hand.
- Scanners: we accept 3Shape, Medit, iTero and Dexis files.
- First case: your first case is free, up to £100, with no invoice and no contract, so you can judge the fit and the seating before committing anything.
We also produce conventional crown and bridge work. See our overview of crown and bridge for UK practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proper torque value for an implant abutment?
For most Straumann final abutments the value is 35 Ncm, applied with a calibrated torque wrench. Other systems differ, for example some Astra Tech platforms call for 20 to 25 Ncm, so always confirm the value on the instruction-for-use sheet for the exact component.
What is the ideal torque for implant insertion?
Insertion torque is a placement measure, not a prosthetic one. Clinicians generally look for at least 35 Ncm of primary stability to consider immediate loading, while values below around 30 Ncm usually point to a delayed, unloaded healing period of several months.
What is the torque on a Straumann multi unit screw?
The Straumann multi-unit abutment is torqued to the implant at 25 Ncm. The prosthesis is then secured to the multi-unit abutment with the occlusal screw at 15 Ncm. Seat and torque the abutment first, then the prosthesis.
What is the Straumann torque value for occlusal and screw-retained restorations?
Occlusal screws on Straumann screw-retained crowns and bridges are torqued to 15 Ncm. A screw-retained provisional is also seated at 15 Ncm. The final abutment to implant connection, by contrast, is 35 Ncm.
Does the torque value vary by implant system?
Yes. Straumann final abutments are 35 Ncm, while several Astra Tech platforms are 20 to 25 Ncm and Zimmer Biomet is often around 30 Ncm. Values can also vary by platform within one brand. We match the documented value for whatever system you supply, which is part of how we support implant restorations at the lab.
How does the lab help the screw reach the correct torque?
By building a passively fitting restoration on a validated interface, so the parts seat fully and the screw reaches preload without strain. We also document the screw type and target value with the case. The same care applies to our cement-retained crown and bridge work.
