The present study was conducted to compare the stability of 3 different microimplant systems with different costs, over a period of 6 months.
Methods: In 16 adult patients (7 males, 9 females; mean age, 19.81 years), a total number of 32 micro-implants (1.3-1.4 mm in diameter and 8 mm long) were placed between the roots of maxillary 2nd premolar and the first molar. A new system was used to classify microimplant failure on the upper left and right quadrant during a specified period of 6 months.
Results: The overall success rate was 78.1%, a value suggesting that microimplants of S.K. surgicals are as stable as those of Denticon and Absoanchor (Dentos), and can be applied as cost-effective substitutes.
Conclusions: When inserted between the roots of maxillary second premolar and first molar by a self-drilling, incision-free method, cost-effective microimplants appeared as stable as their more expensive counterparts. Female patients recorded a higher success rate than males, and the maxillary left quadrant had more success than the right quadrant. Orthodontic microimplant failure can be classified as: Grade I – Inflammation associated with the microimplant, Grade II – Mobility associated with the microimplant, Grade III – Change in microimplant angulation, Grade IV – Complete luxation of the microimplant. Microimplant fracture during its removal can be considered as a Grade V microimplant failure.