Implant Surface Variability Between Progressive Knife-Edge Thread Design and International Organization for...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Implantology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Implant thread design is crucial for primary stability and osseointegration.
• Different thread geometries influence bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and biomechanical performance.
• Understanding surface area differences is key to optimizing implant success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the external surface areas of progressive knife-edge and V-shaped metric ISO thread designs.
• To analyze how thread design and diameter affect surface area and potential osseointegration.
• To evaluate the theoretical impact of thread geometry on implant biomechanics.

Main Methods:

• Virtual creation of six dental implant models with progressive knife-edge and ISO thread designs (non-self-tapping and tapping).
• Inclusion of two diameters (3.8 mm and 4.6 mm) with identical lengths (9.5 mm) and external outlines.
• Measurement of total, superior, and inferior external surface areas using SolidWorks, calculating percentage difference (ΔESA).

Main Results:

• The 4.6 mm knife-edge design showed a +9.9% greater external surface area (ΔESA) than the ISO self-tapping model.
• The 3.8 mm diameter favored the ISO self-tapping model with a -1.5% ΔESA.
• Knife-edge designs consistently yielded greater ΔESA in the apical halves (+9.3% to +23.5%), while tapping areas negatively impacted ΔESA.

Conclusions:

• Progressive knife-edge threads provide a larger external surface area than ISO threads, particularly for 4.6 mm diameter implants.
• The apical region's surface area is significantly influenced by thread design, with knife-edge designs showing an advantage.
• Further research is required to correlate these surface area differences with actual primary and secondary implant stability.