RESEARCH ARTICLE
Torque Loss After Miniscrew Placement: An In-Vitro Study Followed by a Clinical Trial
Marco Migliorati1, Sara Drago1, Fabrizio Barberis2, Irene Schiavetti3, Domenico Dalessandri4, *, Stefano Benedicenti5, Armando Silvestrini Biavati1
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2016Volume: 10
First Page: 251
Last Page: 260
Publisher ID: TODENTJ-10-251
DOI: 10.2174/1874210601610010251
Article History:
Received Date: 01/03/2015Revision Received Date: 29/04/2016
Acceptance Date: 09/05/2016
Electronic publication date: 31/05/2016
Collection year: 2016
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode), which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
To evaluate torque loss a week after insertion, both in an in vivo and an in vitro experimental setup were designed. In the in vivo setup a total of 29 miniscrews were placed in 20 patients who underwent orthodontic treatment. Maximum insertion torque (MIT) was evaluated at insertion time (T1). A week later, insertion torque was measured again by applying a quarter turn (T2); no load was applied on the screw during the first week. In the in vitro setup a total of 20 miniscrews were placed in pig rib bone samples. MIT was evaluated at insertion time (T1). Bone samples were kept in saline solution and controlled environment for a week during which the solution was refreshed every day. Afterwards, torque was measured again by applying a quarter turn (T2). The comparison of MIT over time was done calculating the percentage difference of the torque values between pre- and post-treatment and using the parametric two independent samples t-test or the non-parametric Mann–Whitney test. After a week unloaded miniscrews showed a mean loss of rotational torque of 36.3% and 40.9% in in vitro and in in vivo conditions, respectively. No statistical differences were found between the two different setups. Torque loss was observed after the first week in both study models; in vitro experimental setup provided a reliable study model for studying torque variation during the first week after insertion.
