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Drilling down to success: Comparative insight on single-drill and sequential-drill techniques for dental implant
Jerome Rahul James1, Karthigeyan Jeyapalan1, Shanmuganathan Natarajan1
1Department of Prosthodontics, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, SRIHER, Chennai, India.
Background:
To evaluate and compare osteoblastic activity and osseointegration between single-drill and sequential-drill implant site preparation techniques, using osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels as a biomarker.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial with a split-mouth design was conducted, involving 12 participants (24 dental implants). The study included two groups: a single-drill group and a sequential-drill group. Gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected at baseline, 15-, 30- and 60-days post-implantation. Osteoprotegerin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
Intragroup analysis showed significant variations in OPG levels over time (p < 0.0001). Intergroup comparisons revealed no significant differences at baseline (p = 0.9563) or at 15 days (p = 0.7617); however, significant differences were detected between groups at 30 days (p = 0.0391) and 60 days (p = 0.0005). The single-drill group exhibited higher initial OPG levels, while the sequential-drill group had elevated OPG levels at 30 and 60 days.
Conclusion:
The single-drill technique may provide an early advantage in osteoblastic response, while the sequential-drill technique supports increased osteoblastic activity at later stages. Both techniques effectively support osseointegration, with selection depending on specific clinical requirements.
