Stability of dental implants with sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) and modified (SLActive) surfaces during the osseointegration period

Background. The surface properties of implants are effective factors for increasing the osseointegration and activity of osteoprogenitor cells. This study compared the stability of dental implants with sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) and modified surfaces (SLActive) using the resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Methods. In a split-mouth design, 50 dental implants with either SLA surface properties (n=25) or modified (SLActive) surface properties (n=25) were placed in the mandibles of 12 patients with a bilateral posterior edentulous area. Implant stability was measured using RFA (Osstell) at implant placement time and every week for 1, 2, and 3 months before the conventional loading time. Results. One week following the implantation, implant stability increased from 70 to 77.67 for SLA and from 71.67 to 79 for SLActive (P<0.05). Stability improved each week except in the 4th week in SLActive surface measurements. No significant differences were observed between the groups at 2 and 3 months (P>0.05). Conclusions. For both implant surfaces, increased stability was observed over time, with no significant differences between the groups.

Machine Learning-Based Diagnosis in Laser Resonance Frequency Analysis for Implant Stability of Orthopedic Pedicle Screws

Evaluation of the initial stability of implants is essential to reduce the number of implant failures of pedicle screws after orthopedic surgeries. Laser resonance frequency analysis (L-RFA) has been recently proposed as a viable diagnostic scheme in this regard. In a previous study, L-RFA was used to demonstrate the diagnosis of implant stability of monoaxial screws with a fixed head. However, polyaxial screws with movable heads are also frequently used in practice. In this paper, we clarify the characteristics of the laser-induced vibrational spectra of polyaxial screws which are required for making L-RFA diagnoses of implant stability. In addition, a novel analysis scheme of a vibrational spectrum using L-RFA based on machine learning is demonstrated and proposed. The proposed machine learning-based diagnosis method demonstrates a highly accurate prediction of implant stability (peak torque) for polyaxial pedicle screws. This achievement will contribute an important analytical method for implant stability diagnosis using L-RFA for implants with moving parts and shapes used in various clinical situations.

An In Vitro Analysis on Polyurethane Foam Blocks of the Insertion Torque (IT) Values, Removal Torque Values (RTVs), and Resonance Frequency Analysis (RFA) Values in Tapered and Cylindrical Implants

Background: Several different dental implant microgeometries have been investigated in the literature for use in low-density bone sites. The polyurethane solid rigid blocks represent an optimal in vitro study model for dental implants, because their composition is characterized by symmetrical linear chains of monomers of hexa-methylene sequences producing a self-polymerization process. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the primary stability of cylindrical and tapered implants positioned into low-density polyurethane solid rigid blocks. Materials and Methods: Two different macrogeometries, cylindrical (4 mm diameter and 10 mm length) and tapered dental implants (4.20 mm diameter and 10 mm length), were investigated in the present study. The implants were inserted into 10 PCF and 20 PCF polyurethane blocks, with and without an additional cortical layer. The insertion torque (IT) values, the removal torque values (RTVs), and the resonance frequency analysis (RFA) values were measured and recorded. Results: A total of 80 sites were tested, and a significant increased primary stability (PS) was detected in favour of tapered dental implants when compared to cylindrical implants in all experimental conditions (p < 0.05). Higher IT, RT, and RFA values were measured in tapered implants in 10 and 20 PCF polyurethane blocks, both with and without the additional cortical layer. Conclusions: Both implants showed sufficient primary stability in poor density substrates, while, on the other hand, the tapered microgeometry showed characteristics that could also lead to clinical application in low-density posterior maxillary sites, even with a drastically decreased bone cortical component.

An experimental study on the effects of the cortical thickness and bone density on initial mechanical anchorage of different Straumann® implant designs

Background The aim of the current study was to comparatively assess the primary stability of different Straumann® implant designs (BLX, Straumann Tapered Effect, Bone Level Tapered, and Standard Plus) via resonance frequency analysis by using an implant insertion model in freshly slaughtered bovine ribs with and without cortical bone. Tapered Effect (4.1 × 10 mm), Bone Level Tapered (4.1 × 10 mm), Standard Plus (4.1 × 10 mm), and BLX (4.0 × 10 mm) implants were inserted into the distal epiphysis on the longitudinal axis of the freshly slaughtered bovine ribs. As a control, implants with the same sizes were inserted into the proximal diaphysis. The stability of the implants was examined with resonance frequency analysis. Results BLX and Tapered Effect implants showed higher implant stability quotient values in both study and control groups. All implant systems showed a significant decrease of mechanical anchorage in the study group. BLX and Bone Level Tapered designs had a significantly lower loss of mechanical anchorage in the lack of cortical bone. Conclusion Both Tapered Effect and BLX designs could ensure sufficient initial stability; however, BLX implants could be an appropriate option in the lack of cortical bone and poor bone quality at the implant recipient site. Clinical relevance BLX is a novel implant system, which could be especially beneficial in the presence of spongious bone type at posterior maxillae.

RFA and Its Use in Implant Dentistry

For over two decades the use of resonance frequency analysis or RFA has been used as a tool to determine the stiffness of implants in bone. Through the years the technology has become better, smaller and more accurate. Today, the use of RFA has been proven to be far superior to other clinical techniques to determine implant stability and is used not only to increase the level of success for implantologists around the world, but also to further the study of implant technology development.