Purpose: To compare the primary and secondary stability of conventional (≥ 8-mm) and extrashort (4-mm) implants in edentulous patients using different methods of assessment. Materials and Methods: Patients underwent implant surgery and were randomly allocated into two groups: test, with two conventional implants in the anterior region and two extrashort (4-mm) implants in the posterior region; and control, with two conventional (≥ 8-mm) implants in the anterior region only. Primary stability (S1–implant placement) was assessed by insertion torque, implant stability quotient (ISQ, Osstell), and damping capacity (PTV, Periotest), while secondary stability (S221—21 days after S1; and S2clip—at prosthetic loading, ± 3 months after S1) was evaluated by ISQ and PTV. The statistical significance level was set at P < .05. Results: Fifty conventional implants and 24 extrashort implants were placed in 25 patients. The overall survival rate was 97.3%. There was no statistically significant difference between the insertion torque of conventional and extrashort implants (P > .05). PTV values were significantly lower for conventional implants only at S2clip (P = .041). ISQ values were significantly greater for conventional implants at S1 (P = .004), whereas at S221 and S2clip, no differences were found (P = .413 and P = .490, respectively). Damping capacity showed no significant differences between S1–S221 and S1–S2clip. ISQ values showed a significant increase of stability between S1–S2clip, for conventional (P = .022) and extrashort (P = .005) implants, which was different from that observed between S1–S221. There was a moderate negative correlation between the PTV and ISQ variables (r = 0.5) of extrashort implants, and between the PTV and insertion torque (r = –0.3) of conventional implants. For extrashort implants, there was a null correlation between ISQ and torque (r = 0.0). There was a moderately positive correlation between ISQ and torque (r = 0.3) in the conventional implant group. Conclusion: The results suggest that extrashort and conventional implants present similar primary and secondary stability values and may similarly influence restorative protocols.
Keywords: bone-implant interface, bone remodeling, dental implants, dental implantation, osseointegration, resonance frequency analysis, torque