Methods to measure stability of dental implants

Abstract

Dental implant treatment is an excellent option for prosthetic restoration that is associated with high success rates. Implant stability is essential for a good outcome. The clinical assessment of osseointegration is based on mechanical stability rather than histological criteria, considering primary stability (absence of mobility in bone bed after implant insertion) and secondary stability (bone formation and remodeling at implant-bone interface). However, due to the invasive nature of the histological methods various other methods have been proposed: Radiographs, the surgeon's perception, Insertion torque (cutting torque analysis), seating torque, reverse torque testing, percussion testing, impact hammer method, pulsed oscillation waveform, implant mobility checker, Periotest, resonance frequency analysis. This review focuses on the methods currently available for the evaluation of implant stability.