# Time- and Cost-Efficient, Minimally Invasive Comparative Assessment of Implant Stability: Reliability and Inter-Examiner Agreement of IST Versus ISQ Across Different Bone Quality Models

## TL;DR

This study compares two methods for measuring dental implant stability and finds them equally reliable, with one being more practical and cost-effective.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that the IST system is a reliable and accessible alternative to ISQ for implant stability assessment.

## Key findings

- IST and ISQ showed excellent inter-examiner reliability across all bone quality types.
- Measurement consistency was not affected by the examiners' experience levels.
- IST offers practical advantages like reduced abutment manipulation and simplified protocols.

## Abstract

This study evaluated the reliability and inter-examiner agreement of the Implant Stability Test (IST) by Anycheck compared to the established Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) by Osstell across different bone quality types. Seven dental hygienists with varying experience levels performed stability measurements using both devices on standardized implant models representing hard, normal, and soft bone qualities. Both IST and ISQ demonstrated excellent inter-examiner reliability (ICC > 0.90) across all bone quality types, with strong positive correlations (r > 0.85) between measurements regardless of bone density. No significant differences were found in measurement consistency between examiners with different experience levels for either device. The results demonstrate that IST provides comparable reliability to ISQ for implant stability assessment, with excellent inter-examiner agreement and accessibility for practitioners with varying experience levels. The IST system offers practical advantages including elimination of SmartPeg requirements, reduced abutment manipulation, and simplified measurement protocols, supporting its potential as a reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional ISQ measurements under standardized experimental conditions.