Measurement of dental implant stability by resonance frequency analysis: A review of the literature

ABSTRACT

Dental implant treatment is an excellent option for prosthetic restoration that is associated with high successrates. Implant stability is essential for a good outcome. The clinical assessment of osseointegration is based onmechanical stability rather than histological criteria, considering primary stability (absence of mobility in bonebed after implant insertion) and secondary stability (bone formation and remodelling at implant-bone interface).The aim of this study was to review the literature on Resonance Frequency Analysis (RFA) as a methodfor measuring dental implant stability. An online search of various databases was conducted on experimentaland clinical research published between 1996 and 2008. The studies reviewed demonstrate the usefulness ofRFA as a non-invasive method to assess implant stability. Further research is required to determine whetherthis system is also capable of measuring the degree of dental implant osseointegration (AU)