Primary stability comparison using piezoelectric or conventional implant site preparation systems in cancellous bone: a pilot study

This study compares implant primary stability achieved in cancellous bone after placement in piezoelectric prepared sites versus conventionally drilled sites. Four bovine ribs were randomly assigned and placed in a water bath at 36.5 °C. Five sites per rib (total n = 20 sites) were prepared using piezoelectric system (test) or conventional drills (control) with twenty 10 × 3.6-mm Implantium implants placed. Using Osstell Mentor quantitative analysis, 5 resonance frequency analysis [implant stability quotient {ISQ}] values per implant were recorded at 5 locations for a total of 100 measurements. Independent t test analysis indicated significant difference in primary stabilities between groups: t (17) = 2.637, P = 0.17, with equal variance assumption satisfied (P = 0.196). Examination of means indicated a higher mean ISQ for piezoelectric than for conventional: 58.9 (+8.55) versus 49.2 (+7.33), respectively. Analysis of variance indicated a significant difference in mean ISQ value by rib. Tukey test indicated significantly higher ISQ values for rib A (test) than ribs B, C (control), and D (test). Implant site preparation using the piezoelectric system gives higher implant primary stability in cancellous bone. However, variations in quality across bones may have affected the results.