Background: Osseodensification has been introduced as a novel method for osteotomy site preparation for root form dental implants. It allows for a low plastic deformation of bone using a set of universally compatible densifying burs.Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of two different drilling techniques (Osseodensification using Densah™ burs and conventional extractional drilling) on the marginal bone height changes of the posterior maxilla in implant retained partial dentures.
Materials and methods:This is a split-mouth study where eight patients with Kennedy Class I maxillae were selected and each patient received an implant on the right side using osseodensification (Group I) and an implant on the left side using conventional drilling (Group II). The second stage was started after 16 weeks and removable partial dentures that were retained by ball abutments fitted to the implants were constructed. Serial, standardized digital periapical radiographs were taken at 6 and 12 months to assess marginal bone height. All data were collected, tabulated and statistically analyzed.Results: Six months after prosthetic loading, the mean amount of the measured marginal bone height changes was found to be 0.675±0.089mm and 0.7625±0.206mm for group I and group II, respectively. From six to twelve months after loading, the mean amount of the measured marginal bone height changes was found to be 0.475±0.167mm and 0.65±0.207mm for group I and group II, respectively. Twelve months after loading, the mean amount of the measured marginal bone height changes was found to be 1.15±0.239mm and 1.4125±0.253mm for group I and group II, respectively. The difference between the two groups was found to be not statistically significant p<0.05.
Conclusion:Although osseodensification drilling technique showed better results regarding bone height changes around dental implants than the conventional technique, both drilling techniques are reliable for creating osteotomies for implant placement.