Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Quasistatic Mechanical Testing for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing Occlusal Veneers Cemented to Milled Dentin Analog Material
Published on: December 20, 2024
Fracture resistance of commonly used self-drilling orthodontic mini-implants
Angie Smith1, Yara K Hosein, Cynthia E Dunning
1a Private practice, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
Objective:
To investigate the fracture resistance of six commonly used self-drilling orthodontic mini-implants by comparing their respective fracture torques during insertion.
Materials And Methods:
Ninety self-drilling mini-implants from six manufacturers (Aarhus, Dual-Top, OrthoEasy, Tomas-pin, Unitek, and VectorTAS), with diameters ranging from 1.4 to 1.8 mm, were inserted into acrylic blocks using a custom-made insertion device. Insertion torques were measured using a 6-degree-of-freedom load cell fixed to the base of the acrylic blocks, and peak torques experienced at the time of fracture for each of the mini-implants were recorded. One-way analysis of variance (α = .05) was used to compare the fracture torques among the six different groups.
Results:
Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (P < .05) in the peak fracture torques among mini-implant groups. Mean fracture torques ranked as follows: Unitek (72 Ncm) > Tomas-pin (36 Ncm) > Dual-Top (32 Ncm) ≈ VectorTAS (31 Ncm) > OrthoEasy (28 Ncm) > Aarhus (25 Ncm), with significant differences found between all manufacturers, except for Dual-Top and VectorTAS.
Conclusions:
Mini-implants tested showed a wide range of torque at fracture depending on the manufacturer, with only a weak correlation between mini-implant diameter and fracture resistance. This torque should be considered at the time of mini-implant insertion to minimize the risk of implant fracture, especially in areas of high-density bone without predrilling.
