Evaluation of the stability of hydroxyapatite-coated dental implants over time using non-invasive clinical methods: a scoping review

This scoping review aims to systematically map and synthesize the available scientific evidence on non-invasive clinical methods used to evaluate the stability of hydroxyapatite-coated dental implants over time, with a particular focus on resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and Periotest in human clinical studies. The stability of dental implants is a determining factor for successful osseointegration and long-term clinical outcomes. Multiple invasive and non-invasive techniques have been proposed to evaluate implant stability; however, the diversity of methods, timing of evaluation, and clinical contexts has generated heterogeneous evidence. The objective of this scoping review is to identify, categorize, and describe the clinical and digital methods used to evaluate the stability of hydroxyapatite-coated dental implants, as well as the contexts in which they are applied. This review will also explore how implant stability is measured at different stages of healing and loading protocols. This protocol was developed following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Exploratory Reviews). As a scoping review, this study does not aim to assess risk of bias or perform a quantitative synthesis, but rather to provide a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature and identify gaps for future research.