Comparative Biomechanical Evaluation of SDS and Nobel Ceramic Dental Implant Systems in Type II Artificial Bone: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Ceramic dental implants have been proposed as metal-free alternatives to titanium implants. This in vitro study compared the biomechanical measurements and drilling-related surface temperatures of two commercial ceramic implant systems with different dimensions and drilling protocols: SDS 2.2 (3.8 × 11 mm) and Nobel 2.2 (4.2 × 12 mm). Twenty-six implants per system were placed in type II polyurethane artificial bone. Outcomes included insertion torque, immediate removal torque, resonance frequency analysis in two perpendicular directions, and initial and final drill-surface temperatures. Observed insertion torque was 43.04 ± 5.38 Ncm for SDS and 31.27 ± 6.07 Ncm for Nobel; removal torque was 46.54 ± 5.47 and 28.31 ± 10.07 Ncm, respectively. SDS also had higher observed ISQ values in both directions. Mean final drill-surface temperatures were approximately 52 °C for SDS Drill 2 and 64 °C for Nobel Drill 4. These readings do not establish intraosseous temperature or biological thermal injury. Because implant dimensions, macrogeometry, and drilling protocols differed and independent block replication was limited, the results describe complete commercial systems under the tested conditions. Specimen-level statistical comparisons are exploratory and do not establish a confirmatory system effect. Further testing with both systems randomized across multiple independent blocks and direct, time-resolved substrate temperature measurements is needed.