The Relationship of Periotest Values, Biomaterial, and Torque to Failure in Adult Baboons

A quantitative measure of implant stability would be beneficial to decision-making regarding the status of the bone anchorage around an implant. The Periotest device has been reported to provide such a measure, but the in vivo data are incomplete and inconclusive in support of this claim. The purpose of this study was to determine in an in vivo model the relationship between Periotest values (PTV), three different implant biomaterials, and torque to failure. A total of 79 screw-shape implants made of commercially pure titanium, titanium alloy, and HA-coated alloy were evaluated in the posterior maxillary and mandibular quadrants of six female baboons following healing for 3 to 4 months. At uncovering, the implants were tested with the periotest device and torqued to failure using an electronic torque driver. Analysis of the PTV-biomaterial relationship revealed no significant difference among the implants based on the biomaterial (P=.7453). Analysis of PTV-torque revealed a significant relationship (P=.0117), however, the association between PTV and torque was not strong and does not explain 92% of the variation between the parameters (Pearson correlation .2823,, R2=.08).