It has long been recognized in the dental implant literature that implant stability is a critical factor in predictable treatment outcomes. Both primary stability (mechanical stability) and stability prior to provisionalization or restoration of the implant should be considered in the individual treatment plan. The secondary (aka biological stability) will indicate the level of osseointegration when compared to the initial primary stability (mechanical stability) at placement of the implant. There are other factors, of course, to be considered but there is little disagreement in the literature that implant stability is key.
Already in 1993, Albrektsson and Zarb pointed out that a key parameter for implant success was “the achievement and maintenance of implant stability.” Since then, there have been many studies done to identify the various factors that reduce the risk of failures and improve the predictability of treatment outcomes. The primary factors listed in most studies include (1), (2), (3), (4):
- Quantity, quality, and health of soft and hard tissues
- Implant stability
- Implant position and abutment selection
- Occlusal analysis
- Oral hygiene assessment
- Patient risk factors
- Experience level of the surgeon
Although no therapy is totally risk free or 100% predictable, the clinician can rest assured that considering implant stability and the other factors listed above can reduce the risk of failure in most cases. ISQ is the only objective, reliable and non-invasive way to measure implant stability at placement and multiple times during the healing phase, thereby monitor the level of biological stability before proceeding to final restoration.
References
(1) “Immediate loading of maxillary and mandibular implant-supported fixed complete dentures: a 1- to 10-year retrospective study.” J Oral Implantol. 2012 Sep;
(2) “Guidelines for the provision of dental implants.” IJOMI, Volume 23, Number 3, 2008.
(3) Chrcanovic, et. al, JOR, 2014, 41.
(4) Da Silva, et. al. JADA, 2014.
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