Insertion Angle Impact on Primary Stability of Orthodontic Mini-Implants

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To analyze the impact of the insertion angle on the primary stability of mini-implants. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 ilium bone segments of pigs were embedded in resin. Two different mini-implant sizes (Dual-Top Screw 1.6 × 8 mm and 2.0 × 10 mm) were inserted at seven different angles (30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 80°, and 90°). The insertion torque was recorded to assess primary stability. In each bone, five Dual-Top Screws were used to compensate for differences in local bone quality. Results: The angle of mini-implant insertion had a significant impact on primary stability. The highest insertion torque values were measured at angles between 60° and 70° (63.8° for Dual-Top 1.6 mm and 66.7° for Dual-Top 2.0 mm). Very oblique insertion angles (30°) resulted in reduced primary stability. Conclusions: To achieve the best primary stability, an insertion angle ranging from 60° to 70° is advisable. If the available space between two adjacent roots is small, a more oblique direction of insertion seems to be favorable to minimize the risk of root contact.