Evaluation of the stability of implants placed in low-quality bone following the use of osseodensification technique...

Low bone quality, as well as narrow ridge width, presents a challenge for implant placement and affects implant stability. To date, the effectiveness of a specific technique to enhance implant stability in low-bone quality, along with ridge expansion, is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate implant stability in low-quality bone using osseodensification technique (OD) versus ridge expanders.

Twenty-two patients with one missing upper tooth and low-quality bone were recruited. The osteotomy site was prepared via either ridge expanders or the OD technique. The assessments included primary implant stability and secondary stability at 3 and 6 months, as well as bone width at different vertical levels (2, 4, and 8 mm), evaluated preoperatively, baseline (immediately postoperatively), at 3 and 6 months. Additionally, pain outcome (PO) was assessed.

Intergroup comparisons of implant stability between interventions revealed no statistically significant differences at baseline or 3 months (P > 0.05), whereas there was a statistically significant difference at 6 months (P = 0.0268) in favour of the OD group. The PO revealed no statistically significant differences at baseline or after 1 week (P > 0.05). The ridge width between interventions showed statistically significant differences at baseline and after 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05) at 2, 4, and 8 mm in favour of the OD group.

Considering the significant preoperative difference in crestal ridge width and the short follow-up period, the OD technique appears to be effective in low-quality bone, improving implant stability and enabling the expansion of narrow ridges with minimal postoperative pain.

This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov on April 2nd, 2022, with the registration number NCT05330546.