“Reverse torque of 30 Ncm applied to dental implants as test for osseointegration”—a human observational study

Abstract

BACKGROUND On bone implantology, stability of a dental implant is an essential clinical tool during osseointegration evaluation, as it is a reflection of the structural and functional connection between the bone and the implant. METHODS The sample was comprised by 17 patients with 40 NanoTec™ and Vellox® implants, placed on the lower jaw, under optimum conditions, after a minimum healing period of 3 months, during stage 2 surgery. RESULTS All 40 implants showed ideal clinical stability after the 30 Ncm reverse torque. There was absence of mobility, absence of radiolucid radiographic images, and symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS The reverse torque is an accepted and non-invasive clinical method for early verification of initial integration, reducing the incidence of possible failure during the first year of prosthetic loading. This is the first study in humans which shows that 30 Ncm is possible, which means a greater safety for prosthetics, since prosthetic parts are turned with up to 35 Ncm.