Secondary Stability
The biological stability of a dental implant achieved through osseointegration and bone remodelling after initial placement.
Full Definition
Secondary stability describes the implant anchorage that develops over time as a result of new bone formation and remodelling at the bone–implant interface, replacing the mechanical primary stability achieved at surgery. The transition from primary to secondary stability involves a transient dip in overall stability (the 'stability dip') during the resorptive phase of healing, typically occurring two to four weeks post-placement. Editors will encounter this term in resonance frequency analysis (RFA) study reports and loading protocol justifications. It is a key concept in determining the timing of prosthetic loading. Implants placed in low-density bone may show a prolonged period of reduced stability before secondary stability is fully established.
Usage
Usage note: Always contrast with 'primary stability' when used in loading protocol discussions; the two terms describe sequential, not concurrent, phenomena.
In Context
- "Serial RFA measurements documented the expected decline in ISQ at week three before secondary stability was re-established by week eight." — Clinical research paper
- "The clinician deferred loading to allow secondary stability to develop in the grafted type IV bone site." — Treatment planning note