Effects of Bone Tapping on Osseointegration of Screw Dental Implants

The effects of implant placement into a pretapped preparation versus non-pretapped preparation on the osseointegration of bone-anchored dental implants were evaluated. Experimentally available implants made of commercially pure titanium were implanted into rabbit mandibles and tibial metaphyses. In the self-tapping group, bone was not tapped prior to implant placement; while in another group, the bone was tapped prior to implant placement. Following implant placement, healing continued for 1, 3, and 6 months, at which time the torque levels required for implant removal were measured. In the mandible there was no statistically significant difference between removal torque for the self-tapping group and that of the tapping group. In the tibia, removal torque for the self-tapping group was statistically significantly lower than that of the tapping group at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Keywords: dental implant, osseointegration, removal torque, self-tapping, tapping