Compliant Keeper system replication of the periodontal ligament protective damping function for implants: Part I.
BACKGROUND
Numerous reports and studies have been published relative to implant overloading, interfacial integrity, and component failure. A significant amount of literature review supports the concept of progressive loading and damping and that it should be addressed.


OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the literature on load reduction and uses the Periotest instrument to evaluate the viscoelastic materials of the Compliant Keeper implant damping system in vitro.


METHODS
The test model was a vice-mounted resin mandible replica with a 4-unit fixed-removable implant-supported Compliant Keeper partial denture. Pontics were both cantilevered and bounded. Three 13-gauge measurement extensions were located facially on the gingival, middle, and occlusal thirds of each abutment and pontic for 312 Periotest measurements of O-ring combinations with a titanium O-ring as the null control. Measurements were averaged and recorded.


RESULTS
Because the Periotest can measure finite movement below Miller Class I, Periotest values were obtained for O-rings so that they could be used to program a Compliant Keeper system to match the Periotest values of another implant body.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant loading differences were found with the O-rings. The O-rings controlled the damping element so they enabled the Compliant Keeper system to provide damping and progressive loading for implant-supported prostheses.
Mensor
M C
MC
Ahlstrom
R H
RH
Scheerer
E W
EW
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002138:Calibration; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D003765:Models, Dental; D010474:Percussion / Q000295:instrumentation; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000502:physiology*
D015921:Dental Implants