A comparison between insertion torque and resonance frequency in the assessment of torque capacity and primary stability of Branemark system implants

The aim of this study was to determine primary stability and insertion torque of Branemark System implants placed in the anterior mandible, and to evaluate a possible correlation between primary stability and insertion torque. Thirty edentulous patients were treated with 60 Branemark System implants using a one-stage technique. The insertion torque values of all implants were recorded with the Osseocare equipment. Immediately after implant placement, each implant was connected to the transducer of an Osstell machine to measure the primary implant stability. The average insertion torque and resonance frequency values were 41.5 +/- 5.8 and 74.1 +/- 3.8 for 30 implants. The correlation between insertion torque and resonance frequency values indicated a statistical significance (P < 0.001). The difference between mean insertion torque values for female and male patients was statistically significant (P < 0.001). No significant difference (P > 0.05) was found between younger and older patients with mean insertion torque values of 43.1 +/- 4.7 and 40.1 +/- 6.5 respectively. The results of this study showed a strong correlation between the primary stability and insertion torque values of Branemark System TiUnite MKIII implants at the time of implant placement.