In-vitro evaluation of the primary stability of multiple condensing thread designed implants placed by novice and experienced clinicians

The null hypothesis was that there is no difference in primary stability (PS) of Multiple Condensing Thread Designed (MCTD)-implants placed in simulated type-IV bone by trainee and experienced operators. The aim was to compare the performance of a novice and an expert clinician in assessing the PS of MCTD-implants placed in simulated type-IV bone-blocks using the ridge expansion (spreading) and bone condensation techniques. The MCTD (n=120) implants were placed in cellular rigid polyurethane foam bone-blocks by an undergraduate student (n=60 implants) and an expert (n=60 implants), respectively. Each operator independently performed the osteotomies, which were sub-classified into three groups (20 implants/group): Group-1—Conventional osteotomy; Group-2: Osteotomy and condensation with a tapered osteotome; and Group-3—osteotomy condensed with cylindrical osteotomes. The PS was measured using insertion torque (IT), resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and Periotest values (PTV). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. For implants placed by novice and experienced operators in groups 1, 2 and 3: there was no significant difference in the IT, RFA and PTV values recorded by novice and experienced operators. The condensation effect of the implant design offers high PS in artificial soft bone independently of the operators’ clinical skills and experience.