In vivo validation of damping capacity assessment as a diagnostic tool for peri-implant bone loss

This in vivo animal study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of a damping capacity assessment by correlating dental implant stability with peri-implant bone loss in a beagle dog model. Thirty-two bone-level implants were immediately placed in four beagle dogs without bone grafting. Implants were divided into platform switching and platform matching groups. Each implant was loaded with a superstructure after a 4-week healing period, followed by 8 weeks of functional loading. Damping capacity assessment and resonance frequency analysis were performed every 4 weeks. Peri-implant bone loss, supporting bone volume, and bone-to-implant contact were assessed using micro-CT and histological analysis. Two implants in the platform switching group failed during the study. Among the remaining 30 implants, final implant stability indices by damping capacity assessment ranged from 44 to 80. Peri-implant bone loss varied from 0.25 mm to 6.96 mm. A strong negative correlation was found between final stability indices and bone loss (r = - 0.745; p ≤ 0.0001). Supporting bone volume and bone-to-implant contact ratio showed significant positive correlations with implant stability. Damping capacity assessment demonstrated diagnostic relevance by reflecting peri-implant bone loss and the degree of osseointegration. However, its ability to detect early bone resorption is uncertain.