Damping characteristics of bone-to-implant interfaces. A clinical study with the Periotest device.

The Periotest device was used to evaluate the damping characteristics of different bone-to-implant interfaces of Brånemark implants. Implant and abutment lengths were found to have a significant influence on Periotest value (PTV). There was no statistical difference between PTVs of implants located in the anterior and posterior areas of the same jaw at abutment connection. No differences were found between PTVs of standard and self-tapping implants. PTVs at abutment connection were highly influenced by the bone quality. The contact with two corticals, one at each extremity of the implant, was of a greater influence in the maxillary than in the mandibular jaw, indicating a firmer anchorage between the bi-cortical implants and the surrounding bone. A progressive decrease of PTVs over time was observed, significant up to 5 years of loading.