ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Resonance Frequency Analysis(RFA) technique can be used as an effective method in measuring the implant stability and documenting the clinical results. This technique also determines how stable the implant is before performing a prosthetic practice. Having become one the guidelines of the implant therapy whose final objective is the immediate loading, the Osstell(TM) mentor is giving a lot of information to the clinicians recently. In this communication, experiments were performed to investigate how reliable the measured ISQ values by Osstell(TM) mentor are, and to see if those are also stable even after sterilization. As five objectives: 1) How stable measured ISQ values after fixation Smartpeg(TM)s for 400 times. 2) How stable measured ISQ values after 'attach-detach'Smartpeg(TM)s for 400 times. 3) How stable measured ISQ values after clinical sterilization methods. 4) How stable measured ISQ values after repeatedly sterilization in autoclave for 10 times. 5) What is the critical temperature which is lost the magnetism of Smartpeg(TM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical sterilization methods(Autoclave sterilization, Dentistar sterilization, Ultra violet sterilization, Vacuum dry unit sterilization, Boiling water sterilization, combined H(2)O(2) and Alcohol sterilization). Smartpeg(TM)s. D3 Block bone(3x9x2cm). Osstem implant(phi 4.1-10mm). Osstell(TM) mentor. Individual experiment was used 8 number of Smartpeg(TM)s and they had measured to ISQ values of before experiment and after experiment. RESULTS: 1. The measured ISQ values did not change after fixation Smartpeg(TM)s for 400 times. 2. There was no significant changes in the measured ISQ values of 'attach-detach Smartpeg(TM)s' for 400 times. 3. The measured ISQ values did not change after the usual clinical sterilization methods. 4. The measured ISQ values did not change after sterilization in autoclave for 10 times. 5. It was impossible to exactly measure the critical temperature which is lost the magnetism of Smartpeg(TM)s. But, the results was resulted to lost its magnetism in higher temperature than 150 degrees C/10 minute. CONCLUSION: The measured ISQ values showed insignificant differences in case of no changes in the magnetism of the Smartpeg(TM)s. It seems that the Smartpeg(TM)s can be used repeatedly in every measurement if the original magnetisms of the Smartpeg(TM)s can be recognized. There seems to be no significant changes in the measured ISQ values of 'attach-detach Smartpeg(TM)s' only if the screw pitches were unimpaired. The clinical sterilization methods seems acceptable because the result was resulted to lost its magnetism in higher temperature than 150 degrees C/10minute.