Implant Stability Development of Photofunctionalized Implants Placed in Regular and Complex Cases: A Case-Control...

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Biomaterials Science
• Osseointegration Research

Background:

• Dental implant stability is crucial for successful osseointegration.
• Factors influencing implant stability include bone quality and implant surface treatment.
• Photofunctionalization is a novel surface treatment aiming to improve implant osseointegration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the rate of implant stability development between as-received and photofunctionalized dental implants.
• To evaluate implant stability in both regular and complex clinical cases.
• To determine the influence of photofunctionalization on osseointegration speed.

Main Methods:

• Forty-nine dental implants (24 as-received, 25 photofunctionalized) were placed in regular or complex cases.
• Photofunctionalization involved 15-minute UV treatment prior to implant placement.
• Implant stability was measured using the implant stability quotient (ISQ) at placement (ISQ1) and stage-two surgery (ISQ2).
• Osseointegration speed index (OSI) was calculated as ([ISQ2-ISQ1]/healing time in months).

Main Results:

• Photofunctionalized implants exhibited a considerably greater average OSI (3.7 ± 2.9) compared to as-received implants (0.0 ± 1.0).
• In complex cases, photofunctionalized implants showed significantly higher OSI values (4.2 ± 3.2) than as-received implants (0.2 ± 0.9).
• Multivariate analysis indicated photofunctionalization as the strongest determinant of OSI, surpassing patient age, sex, and implant dimensions.

Conclusions:

• Photofunctionalization accelerates the rate and enhances the final level of implant stability development.
• The benefits of photofunctionalization are particularly pronounced in cases with poor bone quality and complex surgical scenarios.
• Photofunctionalization is a more significant factor in achieving implant stability than other tested implant- and host-related factors.