Influence of surface treatment on the primary stability of osseointegrated dental implants quantified with a strain gauge

Abstract

There are several hypotheses to explain the failures of osseointegrated titanium dental implants. Some possible explanations are the alterations in the mechanical properties of the maxillary bones, the surgical technique employed with excessive torques, the inadequate shape of the implants, and the deficient treatment of the surface of the implants. This work aims to measure the strain in the bone, quantify the insertion torque, and analyze the influence of surface treatment on the primary stability of dental implants. Extensometry tests were performed using strain gauges, and the insertion torque of the implants in synthetic polyurethane bone with a density of 30 PCF (0.48 g/cm³) was determined. The tests quantified the deformations in the synthetic bone and the maximum insertion torques of implants with the surface treated with double acid etching and without treatment (machined). The results showed that implants without surface treatment induce greater bone deformation, require lower insertion torque, have lower primary stability, and, in some essays, induce microcracks formation in the bone during insertion. Implants with an acid-treated surface perform better.