Effect of bone quality and quantity on the primary stability of dental implants in a simulated bicortical placement

Conventional dental implants inserted in the molar region of the maxilla will reach into the sinus maxillaris when alveolar ridge height is limited. When surgery is performed without prior augmentation of the sinus floor, primary stability of the implant is important for successful osseointegration. This study aimed at identifying the impact of bone quality and quantity at the implantation site on primary implant stability of a simulated bicortical placement.

In our in vitro measurements, bone mineral density, total bone thickness and overall cortical bone thickness were assessed by micro-computed tomography (μCT) of pig scapulae, which resembled well the bicortical situation found in human patients. Dental implants were inserted, and micromotion between bone and implant was measured while loading the implant with an axial torque.

The main findings were that primary implant stability did not depend on total bone thickness but tended to increase with either increasing bone mineral density or overall cortical bone thickness.

Limited bone height in the maxilla is a major problem when planning dental implants. To overcome this problem, several approaches, e.g. external or internal sinus floor elevation, have been established. When planning the insertion of a dental implant an important aspect is the primary stability which can be expected. With other factors, the dimensions of the cortical bone might be relevant in this context. It would, therefore, be helpful to define the minimum thickness of cortical bone required to achieve sufficient primary stability, thus avoiding additional surgical intervention.