Resonance frequency analysis of implants subjected to immediate or early functional occlusal loading. Successful vs. failing implants.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to analyze the development of implant stability by repeated resonance frequency analysis (RFA) measurements during 1 year in 23 patients treated according to an immediate/early-loading protocol. The objective was also to evaluate the possible differences between failing and successful implants.


METHODS
Eighty-one Brånemark System implants were placed in 23 patients for immediate/early-occlusal loading in all jaw regions. Thirty of the implants were placed in extraction sockets and 62 were subjected to GBR procedures. Apart from clinical and radiographic examinations, the patients were followed with RFA at placement, prosthesis connection and after 1-3, 6 and 12 months. Statistical analyses were carried out to study the possible differences between implants that failed during the study period and implants that remained successful.


RESULTS
Nine implants failed (11.2%) during the 1 year of loading. RFA showed a distinct different pattern between the implants that remained stable and the implants that were lost. The implants that failed during the course of the study showed a significantly lower stability already after 1 month.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of this study, it is concluded that failing implants show a continuous decrease of stability until failure. Low RFA levels after 1 and 2 months seem to indicate an increased risk for future failure. This information may be used to avoid implant failure in the future by unloading implants with decreasing degree of stability with time as diagnosed with the RFA technique.
Glauser
Roland
R
Department for Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. glauser@zzmk.unizh.ch
Sennerby
Lars
L
Meredith
Neil
N
Rée
Andreas
A
Lundgren
AnnaKarin
A
Gottlow
Jan
J
Hämmerle
Christoph H F
CH
D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D015921:Dental Implants