Immediate loading with LASER-treated surface implant: two-year resonance frequency analysis follow-up

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Biomaterials Science
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Implant surface characteristics critically influence osteointegration and primary stability.
• LASER surface treatment offers precise control over roughness, ensuring a repeatable and uncontaminated implant surface.
• Optimized surface properties are essential for successful osseointegration and long-term implant function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term implant stability of LASER-treated surfaces using repeated resonance frequency analysis (RFA).
• To assess implant behavior over 24 months in patients with complete upper jaw edentulism under an immediate-loading protocol.
• To correlate RFA measurements with osseointegration and stability following immediate loading.

Main Methods:

• Ten patients received 6-8 LASER-surface implants each, with torque values monitored during insertion.
• All implants were immediately loaded within 24 hours with a temporary full-arch prosthesis.
• Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and radiographic controls (OPT) were performed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-loading.

Main Results:

• Implant stability quotient (ISQ) values showed a statistically significant decrease from baseline to 1 month (P = 0.0039).
• A significant increase in ISQ was observed from 1 to 3 months (P = 0.0156), 3 to 6 months (P = 0.0020), 6 to 12 months (P = 0.020), and 12 to 24 months (P = 0.0391).
• Rapid ISQ increments were noted in early bone remodeling phases, indicating successful osseointegration.

Conclusions:

• LASER-treated surface implants demonstrated favorable implant stability quotient (ISQ) values throughout the 24-month follow-up.
• The findings align with existing literature on RFA analysis in immediate loading protocols for the upper jaw.
• RFA is a reliable method for monitoring implant stability in immediate loading scenarios.