Early Stability of Short vs. Standard Dental Implants in the Posterior Mandible This study compares how well short dental implants (7mm) work compared to standard-length implants (11mm) when placed in the back part of the lower jaw. Both types of implants have special shallow threads designed to reduce stress on the bone. The main goal is to see how stable they are during the first 4 weeks after placement-a critical time for healing. * Short implants may be a good option for patients with limited jawbone height, avoiding the need for bone grafting. * Understanding their early stability helps dentists decide when it's safe to place teeth on them. * This study uses advanced tools like 3D scans (CBCT) and implant stability measurements (ISQ) to track healing. What will happen in the study? 1. Screening: A dental exam and 3D scan to check bone quality. 2. Implant Placement: * Short (7mm) or standard (11mm) implant, depending on your bone height. * Minimally invasive surgery with local anesthesia. 3. Follow-ups: Painless stability checks at end of 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks using a small device (RFA). Who can participate? Adults (18-60 years) missing posterior teeth in the lower jaw, with: * Enough bone width (≥6.5mm). * No uncontrolled health conditions (e.g., severe diabetes). * Non-smokers or light smokers (\<10 cigarettes/day). * Benefits: Free implant placement and monitoring; contributes to better dental care. * Risks: Typical surgery risks (swelling, infection); rare nerve injury (\<5% chance). How long is the study? * Active participation: 4 weeks (with optional long-term follow-up). * Total study duration: \~12 months (including data analysis). Mohammad Abdulwahab Al-Jonaid University of Science and Technology, Sana'a. * Supervisor: Dr. Ali Al-Hudaied, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist.
A prospective, controlled, parallel-group pilot clinical trial comparing 7mm short implants (SHI) versus 11mm standard implants (SDI) with identical shallow-thread macrodesign (depth \<0.5mm) and 4.2mm diameter. Implant allocation is anatomically driven based on CBCT-measured vertical bone height (7mm group: 8.5-9mm residual bone; 11mm group: ≥12.5mm). Technical Innovations 1. Thread Geometry: Dual shallow-thread reverse-buttress design (0.2-0.5mm depth) with progressive pitch to optimize cortical engagement while minimizing shear stress (Ao et al. 2010). 2. Surgical Protocol: Standardized osteotomy using under-drilling for D2 bone (final drill diameter reduced by 0.2mm) and non-condensing drilling for D3 bone to prevent over-compression. 3. Stability Metrics: * Primary Stability: ITV (last quarter-turn torque) + ISQ (Penguin RFA, mean of 4-directional measurements). * Dynamic Stability: ISQ tracked at T0 (baseline), T1 (7d), T2 (14d), T3 (21d), T4 (28d) to capture dip magnitude (ΔISQ) and recovery onset (start of biological stability). Bone Density Integration * Pre-op CBCT: Hounsfield Unit (HU) stratification (D2: 800-1250 HU; D3: 350-850 HU) with 2mm² ROI analysis at coronal/middle/apical levels. * Intra-op Validation: Tactile assessment using Lekholm \& Zarb scale (D2: "white pine" resistance; D3: "balsa wood"). Quality Controls * Operator Standardization: Single experienced surgeon performs all placements. * RFA Calibration: Pre-measurement checks with reference block and standardized SmartPeg torque (5-10 Ncm). * Blinding: ISQ measurements by research assistant masked to implant type. Rationale for 4-Week Endpoint Focuses on the critical early healing phase where: 1. Primary stability (mechanical) transitions to secondary stability (biological). 2. The "stability dip" (week 2-4) predicts osseointegration failure risk. Technical Constraints * Limited Sample Size (n=20): Pilot study design prioritizes feasibility over powered comparisons. * Bone Density Homogeneity: Excludes D1/D4 bone to reduce confounding. Innovative Aspects First clinical study to combine: 1. Shallow threads + short length in posterior mandible. 2. Weekly RFA tracking during the dip phase. 3. HU-quantified bone density correlation with ISQ trends.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
10
A 7mm long, 4.2mm diameter dental implant with shallow thread (\<0.5mm depth) Macrodesign, surgically placed in the jawbone to restore missing teeth
A 11mm long, 4.2mm diameter dental implant with shallow thread (\<0.5mm depth) macrodesign, surgically placed in the jawbone to restore missing teeth.
university of Sciences and Technology
Sanaa, Yemen
Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) at Baseline (T0)
Mean Resonance frequency Analysis(RFA) measurement taken immediately post-implantation(T0), to assess primary mechanical stability. ISQ range 1-100, low stability \<60, medium stability 60 to 69, high more than or equal 70. Reported as mean ISQ value per group.
Time frame: Measurement at implant placement(Day 0)
Insertion Torque value- ITV.
The rotational torque in Ncm,applied during the final quarter-turn of implant insertion. This is direct measure of primary mechanical stability. Reported as mean ITV per group.
Time frame: Measurement at during implant placement (intraoperative)
Magnitude of Stability Dip
The mean lowest point of stability curve , calculated as the greatest negative change in ISQ value from the baseline T0, measurement for each implant during the 4 -week monitoring period.
Time frame: from implant placement (Day 0) through week4
Time of Onset of Secondary Stability
The mean time in days post implantation at which the ISQ value begins to consistently increase, indicating the start biological secondary stability. Defined as the time point after the nadir -T2or T3.where the ISQ value shows a positive increase confirmed at the subsequent measurement.
Time frame: from Day0 , through week 4.
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