Implant Stability after Graftless Motor-Driven Crestal Sinus Elevation: A Cohort Study.

Abstract

Graftless motor-driven crestal sinus elevation may be a preferable alternative to conventional methods due to the reduction of post-surgical complications and lower cost. This prospective cohort study evaluated the stability of implants installed using this technique. Twenty-nine Straumann BLT implants in 29 different patients were included in the sample. Average implant stability quotients (ISQ) were measured immediately after surgery (Mean 73.5 ± 9.2) and after a period of healing (Mean 77.1 ± 4.5) using resonance frequency analysis (RFA). There was a significant increase in implant stability after healing (p = .035). The healing duration did not significantly influence how implant stability increased (p =.373). The mean ISQ after healing was significantly higher than the clinically acceptable stability value of 65 ISQ (p <.001). Implant length and width were not significantly correlated with ISQ increase (p =.764 and p =.085, respectively). In addition, there were no significant differences in average ISQ values measured immediately post-surgery (at baseline) or after healing between implants with and without registered perforations during surgery (p =.118 and p =.366, respectively). The post-healing stability of four implants that did not achieve primary stability was not significantly less stable after the healing period than those that had achieved primary stability (p =.086). Moreover, the level of insertion torque significantly impacted implant stability immediately post-surgery (p < .001), but the ISQ values measured after healing were not significantly different based on the initial insertion torque values (p = .131). This study suggests that implants installed using graftless motor-driven crestal sinus elevation may achieve clinically acceptable stability as measured by RFA.