Correlation between index panoramic radiomorfometric and primary stability of implants

Correlação entre índices radiomorfométricos panorâmicos e estabilidade primária de implantes

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To evaluate the correlation between panoramic radiomorphometric index of bone density, stability quotient and the insertion torque of the implant.

Methods:

A total of 97 implants were analyzed. Panoramic radiographs calculated the Panoramic Mandibular Index and the Mental Index, in addition to the evaluation of the Mandibular Cortical Index. The insertion torque and the stability quotient of the implant were recorded during the surgical moment. The correlation analysis between the variables described above was performed using the Spearman test, at a significance level of 5%.

Results:

Significant correlations were found between age and mandibular cortical index (p = 0.000 and r = 0.429), insertion torque and age (p = 0.011 and r = 0.263), stability quotient of the implant in the Vestibulo-Lingual direction and The mesio-distal direction (p = 0.000 and r = 0.582), mandibular and mental panoramic index (p = 0.000 and r = 0.809), mandibular and mental cortical index (p = 0.005 and r = -0.288) and mandibular cortical index Mandibular panoramic view (p = 0.000 and r = -0.366). All other correlations were not significant (p <0.05).

Conclusion:

The results of this work suggest that the panoramic radiomorphometric indices may contribute to the pre-diagnosis of the primary stability of dental implants.

Indexing terms:
Bone density; Dental implants; Indexes

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Avaliar a correlação entre índices radiomorfométricos panorâmicos de densidade óssea, quociente de estabilidade e o torque de inserção do implante.

Métodos:

Foi analisado um total de 97 implantes. Nas radiografias panorâmicas, foram calculados os índices Panorâmico Mandibular e o índice Mentual, além da avaliação do índice Cortical Mandibular. O torque de inserção e o quociente de estabilidade do implante foram registrados durante o momento cirúrgico. A análise de correlação entre as variáveis descritas acima foi realizada com por meio do teste de Spearman, a um nível de significância de 5%.

Resultados:

Foram encontradas correlações significantes entre as variáveis idade e o índice Cortical Mandibular (p=0.000 e r=0.429), torque de inserção e a idade (p=0.011 e r=0.263), quociente de estabilidade do implante na direção Vestibulo-Lingual e a direção Mesio-Distal (p=0.000 e r=0.582), índice panorâmico mandibular e o mentual (p=0.000 e r= 0.809), índice cortical mandibular e o mentual (p=0.005 e r=-0.288) e índice cortical mandibular e o panorâmico mandibular (p=0.000 e r=-0.366). Todas as outras correlações não foram significantes (p<0.05).

Conclusão:

Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que os índices radiomorfométricos panorâmicos podem contribuir para o pré-diagnóstico da estabilidade primária de implantes dentários.

Termos de indexação:
Densidade óssea; Implantes dentários; Índices

INTRODUCTION

The evaluation of bone density is very important and widely used to diagnose several diseases such as the osteoporosis [¹]. In Dentistry, the concern with both bone density and quantity started with the osseointegration findings and the consequent use of dental implants in oral rehabilitation [²,³].

Bone density and lack of movement are the most important parameters to the primary stability of the implant, responsible for the osseointegration during the first stage of the surgical healing [⁴]. The lack of stability may cause mobility and loss of the implants [⁵,⁶]. However, almost nothing is known about the objective and the quantitative methods of bone density measurements, which can be applied during the planning of implant surgeries, aiming at predicting the primary stability of the implants to be inserted [⁷].

In Dentistry, the use of panoramic x-rays is one of the most used radiographic techniques to initially evaluate the patient. This happens because all teeth and supporting structures can be seen in a single film, applying a simple technique with a relative low dose of radiation. In such radiographs, it is possible to carry out measurements which are named radiomorphometric indexes, being described as measurements associated and correlated with the systemic bone mineral density of patients [⁸]. One of these indexes is called mentual index (MI), described as having a correlation with the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and the proximal femur [⁹]. The MI can be measured using a high precision caliper or, digitally, by a computer program [¹⁰].

It was found that subjects presenting systemic bone alterations, such as osteoporosis, also present greater reabsorption and cortical thinning of the mandibular base, being evaluated by the mandibular cortical radiomorphometric indexes (MCI) and MI [¹¹-²¹].

Based on the literature review mentioned above, it was considered that there should be a correlation between the radiomorphometric indexes and the implant stability, that can be measured during surgery with the torque insertion (TI) and, after surgery, with the resonance frequency analysis through the implant stability quotient (ISQ) [²²,²³].

Thus, the objective of this research study was to evaluate the correlation between radiomorphometric indexes of bone density, implant stability quotient and torque insertion.

METHODS

In this study, 27 subjects from both genders and in the bracket age of 18−73 years of age were evaluated, as well as their x-rays and clinical records. A total of 92 implants were installed in several areas of the oral cavity and in various bone types. Subjects with a medical history of hormone replacement therapy or calcium use with less than six months were excluded from the study. All panoramic radiographs used in this study are from the ‘Prosthetic and Implant Clinic’ of this University and were taken using a Kodak CR7400 digital panoramic unit (Kodak, Rochester, MA, USA), following the same protocol acquisition 68 kVp, 8 mA and 9 seconds exposure time.

The MCI was determined by a bilateral evaluation with results established in: C1 - clear and sharp posterior mandibular cortical (Figure 1), C2 - endosteal surface presenting semilunar defects (lacunar resorptions) or the surface presenting cortical residuals (Figure 2), C3 - extremely porous cortical layer (Figure 3).

Figura 1
MCI Illustration - C1.

Figura 2
MCI Illustration - C2.

Figura 3
MCI Illustration - C3.

The MPI, following a bilateral evaluation, was determined by the thickness ratio of the mandibular cortical bone, being measured by a perpendicular line to the base of the mandible at the height of the mental foramen center (a), by the distance between the lower border of the mandibular channel and the base of the mandible (b) (Figure 4).

Figura 4
MPI Illustration.

In a bilateral evaluation, the MI is determined by the thickness of the mandibular cortical bone, being measured by a perpendicular line to the base of the mandible, at the height of the center of the mentual foramen (Figure 5).

Figura 5
MI Illustration.

Measurements of MPI and MI were taken using the calibrated WHITWORTH digital caliper.

The MCI, MPI and MI analyzes were performed by two examiners (T1), being repeated after seven days (T2). The intra-examiner and the inter-examiner errors were analyzed through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) test, in which the result determined the sensitivity and the specificity for the diagnosis of low bone density.

Regarding the implant insertion surgical procedure, beds were prepared, using the osseointegration drill kit from Conexão Sistemas de Prótese (Arujá, Brazil), and the standard protocol was applied. Osseointegrated implants, from various diameters and lengths, were used for such purpose (AR Torq - Conexão Sistemas de Prótese, Arujá, Brazil), in which the primary stability level was measured by the IT and the ISQ values for the current cases.

The IT measurement was taken using a standard manual torque wrench, so that, after the implant final stabilization, the torque value considered was the one seen on the torque wrench rod when the implant was locked.

After the implant set-up, the primary stability level was measured by the ISQ, verifying the resonance frequency analysis assessed by Osstell® (Integration Diagnostics Ltd., Göteborg, Sweden) and Smartpeg® (Integration Diagnostics Ltd., Göteborg, Sweden). Smartpeg® was selected according to the Smartpeg® reference list, being manually tightened on the implant and measurements taken considering the mesiodistal and buccolingual directions.

Data were submitted to the statistical analysis with 95% (p <0.05) and 99% (p <0.01) significance levels.

Tables were created and the respective Spearman correlation coefficients calculated.

The intra-observer and inter-observer analysis were evaluated by the ICC (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients).

The study was submitted and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Metropolitan University of Santos under number 946.661, in compliance with the ethical principles described in the Declaration of Helsinki (2000) and the CONEC Resolution 466/12, being in accordance with the country’s laws.

RESULTS

There was high agreement when evaluating the intra-observer 0.95 (p>0.05) and the inter-observer 0.91 (p<0.05) measurements.

The table below presents the evaluation of the Spearman's correlation coefficient considering age, TI, ISQ, MI, MPI and MCI. The radiomorphometric indexes were highly correlated among each other. There was an inverse correlation between the IT and the MCI (r = -0.239 p = 0.022), the Age and the MCI (r = 0.429 p = 0.000) and an inverse correlation between the age and the IT (r = -0.263 p = 0.011). The ISQ showed a strong correlation considering the directions and the MI and the MPI. The age was correlated with the IT and the MCI.

Quadro 1
Resultados do teste de correlação de Spearman. Sendo que (*) está para significância de correlação de 0,05 (p<0,05)e (**) está para significância de correlação de 0,01 (p<0,01)

	AGE	IT	ISQ M-D	ISQ L-V	MI	MPI	MCI
AGE		r= -0.263*	r= 0.174	r= -0.013	r= 0.153	r= 0.170	r= 0.429**
		p= 0.011	p= 0.097	p= 0.900	p= 0.143	p= 0.105	p= 0.000
IT	r= -0.263*		r= 0.243*	r= 0.263	r= 0.135	r= 0.107	r= -0.239*
	p= 0.011		p= 0.019	p= 0.011	p= 0.199	p= 0.309	p= 0.022
ISQ M-D	r= 0.174	r= 0.243*		r= 0.582**	r= 0.254*	r= 0.313**	r= -0.069
	p= 0.097	p= 0.019		p= 0.000	p= 0.014	p= 0.002	p= 0.511
ISQ L-V	r= -0.013	r= 0.263	r= 0.582**		r= 0.304**	r= 0.263*	r= -0.084
	p= 0.900	p= 0.011	p= 0.000		p= 0.003	p= 0.011	p= 0.423
MI	r= 0.153	r= 0.135	r= 0.254*	r= 0.304**		r= 0.809**	r= -0.288**
	p= 0.143	p= 0.199	p= 0.014	p= 0.003		p= 0.000	p= 0.005
MPI	r= 0.170	r= 0.107	r= 0.313**	r= 0.263*	r= 0.809**		r= -0.366**
	p= 0.105	p= 0.309	p= 0.002	p= 0.011	p= 0.000		p= 0.000
MCI	r= 0.429**	r= -0.239*	r= -0.069	r= -0.084	r= -0.288**	r= -0.366**
		p= 0.022	p= 0.511	p= 0.423	p= 0.005	p= 0.000

DISCUSSION

Bone density varies with age. Initially, there is a gradual increase of it during childhood, occurring rapidly in adolescence, and continuing to increase until reaching a peak, that can be defined as the maximum amount of bone density that a person accumulates from birth till the skeleton maturity. The skeletal bone density acquired by a person tends to decline after reaching the maximum bone mineral density [¹-³].

In this current research study, a moderate correlation of p <0.01 between the MCI and the age was observed through the panoramic radiographs, which allows to conclude that the higher the age the worse the bone condition. Other studies confirm this statement, indicating the use of panoramic radiographies to detect low bone density [⁹-¹¹].

It was seen an inverse correlation between the TI and the MCI. The higher the insertion torque, the ICM was in C1, characterizing the mandibular cortical base under normal conditions.

Some authors could predict the initial stability from imaging examination, providing safety to implantologists when treating patients who need rehabilitation through implants. Good initial stability prevents minor movements to occur during the repairing phase, favoring a higher secondary stability and, consequently, osseointegration [²²-²⁵].

Contrary to our findings, some authors state that panoramic radiographic images do not provide substantial information to diagnose low bone density. In significant samples, it is possible to statistically verify positive correlation between bone mineral density and changes in the mandibular cortical bone by the panoramic radiographic images. In single evaluations, it is not possible to diagnose the risk condition to low bone density for a single person by imaging examination [²⁶,²⁷].

Additionally, in this research study, a high correlation was found between the implant stability quotient (ISQ) and the radiomorphometric indexes (MPI and MI). A high correlation was also found considering the three radiomorphometric indexes, which are the mentual index (MI), the mandibular panoramic index (MPI) and the mandibular cortical index (MCI) (P≤0.01). Additional studies have also presented the same results [²⁰,²⁸].

The findings of this study also show a correlation between the TI and the ISQ in the mesiodistal direction (p <0.05), as well as a correlation between the radiomorphometric indexes (p <0.01). Another study [²⁹] also showed a correlation among the bone volume, the TI values and the ISQ of the implant, suggesting that resonance frequency analysis is also a reliable tool to indicate primary implant stability. In agreement with this finding, a similar study concludes that there is a correlation between the TI and the ISQ inserted in the mandible and the maxilla of various bone densities [¹³,²¹,²⁴,³⁰].

Results of additional studies are divergent from the ones found in this research study, showing that implants can present good primary stability with a standard protocol, in which TI and ISQ are two independent primary stability characteristics. Data also show that it is only influenced by bone density, as well as the ISQ is correlated with the length of the implants used [²⁸].

Thus, according to the results found in this research study, it can be concluded that the radiomorphometric indexes can be used as a prediction resource considering the initial stability of mplants.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Sept 2018

History

• Received
  30 Jan 2018
• Reviewed
  14 July 2018
• Accepted
  11 Sept 2018