Assessment of primary implant stability of self-tapping implants using the resonance frequency analysis

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the influence of implant surface modification and implant length on primary implant stability using resonance frequency analysis (RFA).Materials and methodsTwenty-seven patients with bilateral free end mandible were treated with 162 dental self-tapping implants (72 implants with sandblasted and acid-etched surface (SLA) with 8 and 10 mm length, respectively; 90 implants with chemically modified SLA surface (modSLA) and a length of 8 mm). Implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were determined and were compared in between the implant types using statistical analysis (t-test).ResultsMean ISQ value for all 162 implants was 79.09 (5.97). Statistically significant differences were noted between mean ISQ value of SLA and modSLA implants (76.92 vs. 80.80). Also significantly lower mean ISQ values have been recorded for 8 mm length implants compared to 10 mm length implants in the SLA group (74.15 vs. 79.57).ConclusionAll ISQ values indicate the high primary stability for tapper implants inserted in the posterior part of the mandible. Self-tapping implant design provides sufficient initial stability even for implants with nonstandard length. Further investigations are necessary to define the influence of surface chemical modification on primary implant stability.