Evaluation of initial stability and crestal bone loss in immediate implant placement: An in vivo study

OBJECTIVES: (1) To measure the crestal bone levels around implants immediately, and one month, three months, and six months after immediate implant placement, to evaluate the amount of bone level changes in six months. (2) To measure the initial stability in immediate implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients were selected and a total of ten implants were placed in the immediate extraction sites. The change in the level of crestal bone was measured on standardized digital periapical radiographs taken at baseline, first month, third month, and sixth months for each patient, using the SOPRO imaging software. The initial stability of implants was measured with resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and an engine-driven torque. The measurements were statistically analyzed. The student's t-test was used, to identify the significance of the study parameters. RESULTS: When mesial and distal bone losses were averaged, the radiographic evaluation with the SOPRO imaging software showed an average of 0.80 mm, with a standard deviation of ± 0.18 mm bone loss at the first month, followed by 1.03 mm with a standard deviation of ± 0.19 mm at the third month, and 1.23 mm with standard deviation of ± 0.6 mm at the sixth month. The initial stability with the RFA instrument showed a mean of 55 implant stability quotient (ISQ) values and the torque showed a value of 36.50 Nm. CONCLUSIONS: The implant has to be placed 2 mm below the crestal bone level to compensate the crestal bone loss. The initial stability is achieved by apical preparation of the socket wall and use of straight screw implants. When the defect is more than 2 mm, autogenous grafts with membranes are the best choice.