Effects of a Mini Implant’s Size and Site on its Stability Using Resonance Frequency Analysis

Abstract

Aim: Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) have become the preferred method of skeletal anchorage in new-age orthodontics. Despite the remarkable success of mini implants in orthodontic treatment results, mini implants’ stability remains a vital issue that has to be resolved, due to the fact that failure rates are broadly variable and might be up to 25%. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the diameter, implant bone surface contact, thickness of cortical bone, and implant insertion sites on mini implant stability using resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Materials and Method: CBCT of the dry skull was obtained. Buccal and lingual cortical plates of the maxillary and mandibular jaws were measured at 6 mm from the coronal part of the alveolar bone. After placing the implants, the stability was measured using resonance frequency analysis. Results: In the maxillary arch, Pearson correlation showed significant correlation of instability of the implant with the width of the buccal cortical plate and lingual cortical plate and implant contact surface area. In mandibular arch, Pearson correlation showed no significant effect of buccal/lingual cortical plate width, and implant surface contact area in primary stability of varied sized, mini implants. Conclusion: Statistically significant increases in the primary stability of mini implants with an increase in the implant bone contact surface area were found in the maxilla. In the mandible, no significant increase in mini implant stability was found with an increase in the implant contact surface area.