ABSTRACT
Mechanical testing of the implant-tissue interface has been the focus of numerous investigations concerning the anchorage capacity of implants. The purpose of this study was to measure reverse-torque failure after 6 months of healing for three different biomaterials in the posterior jaws of four adult female baboons. The animals had all of their posterior teeth surgically extracted and, following 10 weeks of healing, 7 implants were placed in each quadrant. The biomaterials included titanium plasma-sprayed surfaces, titanium-aluminum-vanadium surfaces (both 3.8 mm x 10 mm), and a commercially pure titanium surface (3.75 mm x 10 mm). After 6 months, torque data were collected using a counterclockwise computerized torque driver and were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance for differences related to biomaterial, jaw, and biomaterial/jaw. Post-hoc Tukey Kramer analysis was also performed for within-group differences (alpha = .05 level). The biomaterial comparison revealed a significant difference between the titanium plasma-sprayed and the combined commercially pure titanium/titanium -aluminum-vanadium groups (analysis of variance, Tukey Kramer, P < .05). The jaw comparison showed no significant difference, although the data suggest that higher forces may be required for mandibular torsional failure. The biomaterial/jaw comparison revealed that jaw differences for the mean values of commercially pure titanium and titanium-aluminum-vanadium implants were greater than jaw differences for mean values of titanium plasma-sprayed implants, although these differences were not statistically significant. Because of the lack of correlation between single-cycle biomechanical tests and clinical performance, it is necessary to be selective in assigning usefulness to data of this type.
Subject(s)
Dental Implantation, Endosseous , Dental Implants , Alloys , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Biomechanical Phenomena , Dental Alloys/chemistry , Dental Prosthesis Design , Dental Restoration Failure , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Mandible/surgery , Maxilla/surgery , Osseointegration , Papio , Surface Properties , Titanium/chemistry , Torque , Wound HealingABSTRACT
A comparison of the Luhr Mini System (Howmedica, Inc, Rutherford, NJ) and the Luhr Micro System (Howmedica, Inc) was undertaken to determine resistance to various forces using a biomechanical model. Miniplates and microplates were first tested to determine their resistance to forces of displacement on flat bend, edge bend, tension, and compression generated by a materials testing system machine. Then, miniplates and microplates were attached to fresh porcine ribs, fixed to a custom-made jig, and subjected to the same forces of displacement. The load was applied to the bone plate to permanent deformation in all tests. The mini and microplate systems resisted 14.50 and 1.14 kg, respectively, on edgewise bending, 2.65 and 1.10 kg, respectively, on flat bending, 92.03 and 16.44 kg, respectively, on tension, and 127.9 and 27.02 kg, respectively, on compression. The mini and microsystem biomechanical model resisted 1.89 and 0.94 kg, respectively, on edgewise bending, 5.20 and 0.85 kg, respectively, on flat bending, 37.60 and 15.72 kg, respectively, on tension, and 53.55 and 16.0 kg, respectively, on compression. The results suggest that the Luhr Mini Fixation System provides a significant amount of resistance to tensile and compressive forces, but is weakest when large forces are applied at 90 degrees to the flat portion of the plate. The system showed decreased force resistance in the biomechanical model except on flat bending. The Luhr Micro Fixation System has significantly less resistance to deformation, but shows no decrease in ability to resist forces of displacement in the biomechanical model.
