Retrieval of a separated implant screwdriver fragment.

T he use of dental implants for replacement of a single missing tooth is a wellestablished treatment modality. The procedure of implant placement and restoration has been conventionally divided into surgical and prosthetic phases. Each phase requires specialized instrumentation and trained operators. The main prosthetic procedures for a straightforward, single-implant rehabilitation are abutment connection, impression, abutment modifications if needed, followed by trial and delivery of the prosthesis. Even with precautionary measures, some complications may occur during implant therapy. Various classifications have been proposed to categorize these complications. Although prosthetic complications are given some consideration, detailed intraoperative and procedural complications during the prosthetic phase have not been considered in most classifications. Although instrument breakage or separation has been mentioned under the classification of surgical complications, there is no classification that considers such a complication during the prosthetic phase. Numerous instruments are used during the prosthetic phase of implant therapy. One such instrument is the screwdriver used to tighten the screw that holds the abutment and implant together. It is mandatory to use the implant screwdriver in conjunction with a calibrated torque wrench, as it has been shown that even experienced operators tighten the screws to only 30%– 50% of the prescribed torque when using handheld screwdrivers and that a torque wrench application also reduces microbial leakage. This case report describes an intraoperative complication that arose due to the separation of the tip of a screwdriver in the screw access channel of the abutment. This features a lesser-reported complication due to instrumentation failure and operator error. It also describes the technique that was used to retrieve it so that the procedure of rehabilitation could be completed successfully.