## 2 Materials and Methods
### Stability Measurement  
Stability of dental implants was measured using two devices: the Periotest Classic (Medizintechnik Gulden, Modautal, Germany) and the Osetstell Mentor (Osstell, Goteborg, Sweden). Stability measurements were performed on the day of implantation, after 6 months (at the day of prosthetic loading) and again after 24 months post-implantation. Stability measurements using the Osetstell apparatus 24 months after implantation were not performed due to the presence of cemented prosthetic superstructures.  
The Osetstell Mentor device uses resonance frequency analysis (RFA) to estimate the stability of the implants. The device magnetically induces vibration of the implant and measures its frequency of movement. The result is expressed with ISQ scale (ISQ--Implant  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{4}{c}{**Aesthetic Area**} & \multicolumn{4}{c}{**Posterior Area**} \\  & **Smokers** & **Non-Smokers** & **Smokers** & **Non-Smokers** \\  & **n** & **\%** & **n** & **\%** & **n** & **\%** & **n** & **\%** \\ \hline
**Overall number of patients** & 47 & 42 & 65 & 58 & 20 & 100 & 32 & 100 \\
**Female** & 27 & 57.5 & 36 & 55.4 & 10 & 50 & 17 & 53 \\
**Male** & 20 & 42.5 & 29 & 44.6 & 10 & 50 & 15 & 47 \\
**Age at insertion (range)** & 47 & (27–63) & & 50 & (29–64) & 54 & (29–71) & 48 (27–68) \\
**Total number of** & & & & & & & & \\
**implants placed** & 54 & 100 & 75 & 100 & 24 & 100 & 37 & 100 \\
**Patients who received** & & & & & & & & \\
**1 implant** & & & & & & & & \\
**Patients who received** & & & & & & & & \\
**2 implants** & & & & & & & & \\
**10 mm-long implants** & - & - & - & - & 9 & 37.5 & 13 & 35 \\
**11.5 mm-long implants** & 20 & 37 & 25 & 33.5 & 15 & 62.5 & 24 & 65 \\
**13.0 mm-long implants** & 28 & 52 & 40 & 53.5 & - & - & - & - \\
**16.0 mm-long implants** & 6 & 11 & 10 & 13 & - & - & - & - \\
**Platform (3.3 mm)** & & & & & & & & \\
**implant diameter** & & & & & & & & \\
**Platform (3.75 mm)** & & & & & & & & \\
**implant diameter** & & & & & & & & \\
**Platform (4.2 mm)** & & & & & & & & \\
**implant diameter** & & & & & & & & \\
**Bone class III** & 26 & 48.15 & 39 & 52 & 11 & 45.83 & 17 & 45.95 \\
**Bone class IV** & 28 & 51.85 & 36 & 48 & 13 & 54.17 & 20 & 54.05 \\
**Mean Insertion Torque** & & & & & & & & \\
**Value (Ncm)** & & & & & & & & \\
**Standard deviation** & & & & & & & & \\
**of Insertion Torque Value** & & & & & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 1: Characteristics of Study Participants.  
Stability Quotient) values: from 0 to 100--increasing values of ISQ are correlated with increased stability of the implant [20; 21]. According to the producer manual and research data there are four main ranges of measured ISQ values: less than 60 (consider conservative approach due to low implant stability), 60-65 (two-stage conventional loading recommended), 65-70 (one-stage early loading possible witch caution), and more than 70 (one stage immediate loading recommended) [22; 23].  
Measurements were performed three times in the bucco-lingual and antero-posterior plane, and results were averaged to minimize measurement error. The final ISQ result is the average of values obtained from both planes.  
The Periotest Classic device is designed to identify the damping capacity and the stiffness of the implant by measuring the contact time between the tip of the monitoring rod and the surface being tested during percussion. The results are expressed using PTV (Periodest Value) units ranging from \(-8\) to +50, where a lower PTV is correlated with higher stability of the implant [24]. Measurements were performed by applying the tip of the device perpendicularly to the long axis of the healing abutment or the prosthetic crown, at its most apical point. Measurements were repeated three times in the bucco-lingual plane and the results were averaged. At the day of implantation Insertion Torque Value (ITV) was measured using the OsseoCCare Pro drilling unit Bien Air Dental.