Factors influencing the removal torque of palatal implant used for orthodontic anchorage.

Pertinent literature on this subject is practically non-existent, as orthodontics is presumably the only discipline where implant removal represents a treatment success. Mean MRT for successful palatal implant removal was 148.6±63.2Ncm, but a large spectrum was observed (minimum 31.5Ncm, maximum 272.8Ncm). This obvious heterogeneity underlines the importance to investigate possible influencing factors. The safe and simple non-invasive method for palatal implant removal necessitates moderate, but not high torque MRTs, independently of the torque direction. The necessary MRT seems clearly influenced by gender, but less so by patient's age or loading time.