Evaluation of Peri-implant Bone Stress on D1 Bone Using a Computerized Torque-Measuring Implant Motor: A Study on Photoelastic Resin Blocks

Purpose: Recently, a torque-measuring micromotor that calculates the integral (I) of torque-depth curve at implant insertion was developed. This device was used to investigate the correlation between (I) and mechanical stress in photoelastic resin blocks with the density of D1 bone. Materials and Methods: Using the micromotor, 40 implants (3.75 × 12 mm) were placed in 40 D1 blocks that had been prepared in four different ways. Four groups of 10 blocks each were prepared according to tunnel length (12 or 14 mm) and debris removal (yes or no). After insertion, peri-implant mechanical stress and its correlation with (I) were assessed by photoelastic and linear regression analysis, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis tests investigated differences in mechanical stress patterns and dynamic parameters among the groups. Results: (I) significantly correlated with mechanical stress in D1 resin under all conditions, except for 12-mm implant sites still containing debris. The correlation was significant concerning the whole dataset (r = 0.979) and separately for the coronal (r = 0.940), middle (r = 0.964), and apical (r = 0.948) portions of the implants. Peak torque did not correlate significantly with peri-implant mechanical stress. Longer implant sites and debris removal were significantly associated with lower peri-implant mechanical stress. Conclusion: (I) provides a reliable measure of mechanical stress in D1 bone during implant placement. Preparation of longer osteotomies and routine removal of all debris might reduce peri-implant bone stress significantly. Keywords: bone density, bone stress, implant osteotomy, photoelasticity, surgical protocol, torque-depth integral