Assessment of the periotest device in baseline mobility measurements of craniofacial implants

The present study aimed to evaluate reliability of the Periotest instrument in baseline mobility measurement of craniofacial implants in a human wet bone specimen. Sixteen 4.0-mm craniofacial Brånemark implants were placed in the most common sites for craniofacial implant placement. A 5.5-mm abutment was attached to each implant except one in the mastoid bone, which was connected with a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) abutment. Baseline Periotest values (PTVs) were recorded on each abutment at different vertical measurement points by three different clinicians using three Periotest devices. Baseline PTVs for each abutment ranged between -1.23 and -5.90. Interoperator and interinstrumental variability did not influence PTVs; however, the vertical measurement point on the abutment proved to have a strong effect on PTV recordings.