The influence of implant shape on primary stability of implants with a thread cutting and forming design:an ex vivo study

The design of an implant has a great effect on primary stability. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in primary stability between straight and tapered Neoss ProActive implants in type I and type III bones using resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and electronic percussive testing (EPT) methods. Fresh cow vertebrae and pelvis were used as models of type 3 and type 1 bone, respectively. Implants of two different designs i.e. straight and tapered Neoss ProActive implants with a thread cutting and forming (TCF) design, both 3.5 mm wide and 11 mm long, were placed in both types of bone (n=60). The primary stability of all implants was measured by an experienced clinician blinded to the study protocol using the EPT and RFA devices. No statistically significant difference was found between the implant stability quotients and the percussive test values of straight and tapered implants in either bone type. Within the limitations of this ex vivo study, it may be concluded that the shape of an implant with a TCF design does not affect primary stability.