Implants
Posted Apr 28, 2011 in Technical
Q: What is the best way to see osseointegration between implant and tissue? Is it possible to find out if the implant is osseo-integrated, histologically, while it's in the patient's mouth?
A: It is possible to verify osseointegration, or the lack thereof, radiographically, before uncovering and fabricating the prosthesis. Once the implant is uncovered and the longer healing cuff is installed, you can check if an implant is loose in the bone by applying a significant amount of torque. Studies have proven that an osseointegrated implant can withstand a counter-clockwise torque of 90ncm, which is notably more torque than will be applied to the implant when seating the restoration.
When an implant begins to fail, you can see a deterioration of the bone around the implant, although the patient may not necessarily feel any pain. I once saw a patient who went to the dental office complaining of a loose screw—but no pain—and when the doctor removed the bridge, the...
