Mineralized bone-implant contact and implant stability quotient in 16 human implants retrieved after early healing periods: a histologic and histomorphometric evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) is a quantitative method for the measurement of implant stability. Information about the significance of RFA measurements and the relationship between RFA values and implant osseointegration, success, or failure is important from a clinical point of view. In a previous study the authors observed a strong correlation between RFA values and mineralized bone-implant contact percentage in implants retrieved after 6 months. The aim of the present histologic and histomorphometric study was to determine whether the same correlation existed at earlier time points, specifically in implants retrieved after 4 or 8 weeks.


METHODS
Sixteen implants, all with a sandblasted and acid-etched surface, were evaluated in the present study. The implants were retrieved for different reasons after 4 or 8 weeks of healing with a 5-mm trephine bur and immersed in 10% buffered formalin to be processed for histology.


RESULTS
A statistically insignificant correlation was detected between RFA values and mineralized bone-implant contact percentage (P = or < .5502) using the Friedman and Spearman tests.


CONCLUSIONS
RFA should reflect the bone anchorage of the implant; however, the relationship between bone structure and RFA is not fully understood.
Degidi
Marco
M
University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Perrotti
Vittoria
V
Piattelli
Adriano
A
Iezzi
Giovanna
G
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D020878:Device Removal; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016348:Osseointegration; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014732:Vibration
D015921:Dental Implants