An experimental study on the effects of the cortical thickness and bone density on initial mechanical anchorage of different Straumann® implant designs

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to comparatively assess the primary stability of different Straumann® implant designs (BLX, Straumann Tapered Effect, Bone Level Tapered, and Standard Plus) via resonance frequency analysis by using an implant insertion model in freshly slaughtered bovine ribs with and without cortical bone. Tapered Effect (4.1 × 10 mm), Bone Level Tapered (4.1 × 10 mm), Standard Plus (4.1 × 10 mm), and BLX (4.0 × 10 mm) implants were inserted into the distal epiphysis on the longitudinal axis of the freshly slaughtered bovine ribs. As a control, implants with the same sizes were inserted into the proximal diaphysis. The stability of the implants was examined with resonance frequency analysis. RESULTS: BLX and Tapered Effect implants showed higher implant stability quotient values in both study and control groups. All implant systems showed a significant decrease of mechanical anchorage in the study group. BLX and Bone Level Tapered designs had a significantly lower loss of mechanical anchorage in the lack of cortical bone. CONCLUSION: Both Tapered Effect and BLX designs could ensure sufficient initial stability; however, BLX implants could be an appropriate option in the lack of cortical bone and poor bone quality at the implant recipient site. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: BLX is a novel implant system, which could be especially beneficial in the presence of spongious bone type at posterior maxillae.