Healing of onlay mandibular bone grafts covered with collagen membrane or bovine bone substitutes: a microscopical and immunohistochemical study in the sheep

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of collagen membrane and Bio-Oss coverage in healing of an onlay graft to the mandible. Twelve adult sheep each received an onlay bone graft (experiment 1), bone graft+Bio-Gide (experiment 2), and bone graft+Bio-Oss/Bio-Gide (experiment 3) on the lateral surface of the mandible. The animals were euthanized at 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks after surgery, and findings were analysed by routine microscopy and immunohistochemistry for proliferation (Ki67) and apoptotic (Caspase-3) markers. Grafts were fully incorporated in all specimens. Pronounced resorption was observed in experiment 1. Minimal loss of graft volume was seen in experiment 2 specimens without membrane displacement. A remarkable increase in the augmented region of the mandible was observed in experiment 3. A high number of osteoclasts were expressed within the grafts during the early healing period, and thereafter declined markedly. Osteoblasts within the grafts expressed a moderate level of Ki67 at 8 weeks, which thereafter declined markedly. The strongest expression of Caspase-3 on the bone surface was observed after 16 weeks. In conclusion, the effect of collagen membrane coverage on bone graft volume maintenance was dependent on membrane stability during healing. An autogenous bone graft covered with Bio-Oss particles resulted in a remarkable increase in augmented lateral surface of the mandible. The late stage of bone graft healing was associated with a high apoptotic induction pathway of osteoblasts lining the surfaces of the new bone, demonstrated by strong positive Caspase-3 immunoreactivity.     

Magnesium-enriched hydroxyapatite at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs

Aim: To evaluate the influence of magnesium‐enriched hydroxyapatite (MHA) (SintLife^®) on bone contour preservation and osseointegration at implants placed immediately into extraction sockets. Material and methods: In the mandibular pre‐molar region, implants were installed immediately into extraction sockets of six Labrador dogs. MHA was placed at test sites, while the control sites did not receive augmentation materials. Implants were intended to heal in a submerged mode. After 4 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed, and ground sections were obtained for histomorphometric evaluation. Results: After 4 months of healing, one control implant was not integrated leaving n=5 test and control implants for evaluation. Both at the test and the control sites, bone resorption occurred. While the most coronal bone‐to‐implant contact was similar between test and control sites, the alveolar bony crest outline was maintained to a higher degree at the buccal aspect of the test sites (loss: 0.7 mm) compared with the control sites (loss: 1.2 mm), even though this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The use of MHA to fill the defect around implants placed into the alveolus immediately after tooth extraction did not contribute significantly to the maintenance of the contours of the buccal alveolar bone crest. To cite this article:
Caneva M, Botticelli D, Stellini E, Souza SLS, Salata LA, Lang NP. Magnesium‐enriched hydroxyapatite at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 22 , 2011; 512–517
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.02040.x     

Collagen membranes at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs

Aim: To evaluate the influence of resorbable membranes on hard tissue alterations and osseointegration at implants placed into extraction sockets in a dog model. Material and methods: In the mandibular premolar region, implants were installed immediately into the extraction sockets of six Labrador dogs. Collagen‐resorbable membranes were placed at the test sites, while the control sites were left uncovered. Implants were intended to heal in a submerged mode. After 4 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed, and ground sections were obtained for histomorphometric evaluation. Results: After 4 months of healing, a control implant was not integrated (n=5). Both at the test and at the control sites, bone resorption occurred. While the most coronal bone‐to‐implant contact was similar between the test and the control sites, the alveolar bone crest outline was maintained to a higher degree at the buccal aspect of the test sites (loss: 1.7 mm) compared with the control sites (loss: 2.2 mm). Conclusions: The use of collagen‐resorbable membranes at implants immediately placed into extraction sockets contributed to a partial (23%) preservation of the buccal outline of the alveolar process. To cite this article:
Caneva M, Botticelli D, Salata LA, Souza SLS, Carvalho Cardoso L, Lang NP. Collagen membranes at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21 , 2010; 891–897.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.01946.x     

Lateral ridge augmentation by the use of grafts comprised of autologous bone or a biomaterial. An experiment in the dog

OBJECTIVE: The present investigation was performed to determine if a block of Bio-Oss used as an onlay graft can be used as a scaffold for new bone formation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five mongrel dogs were used. The mandibular premolars were extracted. On both sides of the mandible, the buccal bone plate was resected and defects, about 25 mm long, 8 mm high and 5 mm wide, were produced After 3 months of healing, a second surgical procedure was performed. In the left side, a block of Bio-Oss was adjusted to the buccal bone wall. The graft had the shape of a cylinder and was retained with a miniscrew and covered with a collagen membrane. In the contra-lateral side of the mandible, a block biopsy was first obtained from the ascending ramus. This bone graft had the shape of a cylinder that was 8 mm in diameter and 3 mm thick. The graft was transferred to the experimental site, adjusted to the buccal wall, retained with a miniscrew, and covered with a membrane. The flaps were repositioned and closed with sutures to ensure a complete coverage of the experimental sites. After 6 months of healing, the dogs were sacrificed and the experimental sites dissected. The biopsies were processed for ground sectioning. The sections were stained in toluidine blue, examined in the microscope, and a number of histo- and morphometric assessments made. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that cortical bone used as an onlay graft in the lateral aspect of the alveolar ridge, during a 6-month period of healing integrated with the host bone but underwent marked peripheral resorption. Thus, close to 30% of the height and 50% of the length of the graft was replaced with connective tissue. It was further observed that while the dimensions of a graft which contained a scaffold of cancellous bovine bone mineral remained unchanged, only moderate amounts of new bone formed at the base of this graft. CONCLUSION: Grafts of autologous cortical bone, placed on the surface of a one-wall defect, may undergo marked resorption during healing. A similar graft of Bio-Oss may retain its dimension, and limited amounts of new bone will form within the biomaterial.     

Potential for acceleration of bone formation after implant surgery by using a dietary supplement: an animal study

Dental implant treatment is an effective modality to restore lost aesthetic and masticatory functions. However, healing after implant surgery takes at least 3–6 months. This prolonged healing period poses several difficulties for individuals with a large edentulous area and decreases their quality of life. Consequently, shortening the healing period and accelerating final prosthesis placement after surgery is very clinically important. Peri‐implant bone formation may be enhanced by systemic approaches, such as the use of osteoporosis supplements, to promote bone metabolism. To confirm whether intake of a supplement developed for osteoporosis, synthetic bone mineral (SBM), was effective in accelerating peri‐implant bone formation as part of the healing process after implantation. Twenty‐four 5‐week‐old female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive a standardised diet without (control group, n = 12) or with SBM (n = 12). The rats had implant surgery at 8 weeks of age under general anaesthesia. The main outcome measures were bone mineral density (BMD) and pull‐out strength in the implant and femur, which were compared between the groups at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation using the Mann–Whitney U test. BMD was significantly greater in the SBM group at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation compared to the control group. Pull‐out strength was significantly greater in the SBM groups at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation compared to the control group. This study demonstrated that SBM could be effective in accelerating peri‐implant bone formation during the healing period after implantation.     

Augmentation of skull bone using a bioresorbable barrier supported by autologous bone grafts. An intra‐individual study in the rabbit.

The aim of this experimental investigation was to compare the effect of using autologous particulate bone grafts with and without a bioresorbable barrier covering for augmentation of the rabbit skull bone. For this purpose, bilateral, circular, 8 mm wide and 1 mm deep skull bone defects were prepared and overfilled with particulate bone grafts. The grafts placed in the test sites were covered with a bioresorbable barrier (Guidor® Matrix Barrier). The grafts placed in the control sites were covered only by the repositioned, cutaneous flap. 12 weeks later, the animals were sacrificed, the experimental sites were defleshed and the height and volume of the augmented bone in the test and control sites were measured clinically. Histologically, morphometrical measurements of the bone tissue were performed in decalcified vertical cross‐sections of the experimental sites. Statistically significant differences were found in favour of the coverage of the bone graft particles with the barrier, both with respect to the height and the volume of the augmented bone.     

Bone augmentation at titanium implants using autologous bone grafts and a bioresorbable barrier. An experimental study in the rabbit tibia.

The aim of the present investigation was to compare the effect of using autologous bone particles covered with a bioresorbable matrix barrier with the use of bone particles alone on bone augmentation at titanium implants installed in the rabbit tibia. Two Brånemark System® implants, one in each tibia, were inserted in each of 9 rabbits in such a way that 5 threads were not covered with bone. Autologous bone particles were harvested from the skull and placed over the exposed implant surfaces on each tibia. The bone graft on one tibia was covered with a Guidor® Matrix Barrier, while the bone graft on the other tibia served as a control. After a healing period of 12 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and specimens taken for histomorphometrical analyses. The analyses showed that a significantly larger volume of augmented bone tissue had formed at the test sites. There were, however, no differences in the amount of mineralized bone. In fact, the difference in tissue volume was due to an increased amount of bone marrow at the test sites. The degree of mineralized bone to implant contact as well as the degree of mineralized bone within the threads at the test implants were similar to that at the controls. In conclusion, it was found that the coverage of particulate autologous bone grafts with a bioresorbable barrier resulted in a larger volume of augmented bone than the use of bone grafts not covered with a barrier.     

Flap vs. “flapless” surgical approach at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs

Aim: To compare the remodeling of the alveolar process at implants installed immediately into extraction sockets by applying a flap or a “flapless” surgical approach in a dog model. Material and methods: Implants were installed immediately into the distal alveoli of the second mandibular premolars of six Labrador dogs. In one side of the mandible, a full‐thickness mucoperiosteal flap was elevated (control site), while contra‐laterally, the mucosa was gently dislocated, but not elevated (test site) to disclose the alveolar crest. After 4 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed, ground sections were obtained and a histomorphometric analysis was performed. Results: After 4 months of healing, all implants were integrated (n=6). Both at the test and at the control sites, bone resorption occurred with similar outcomes. The buccal bony crest resorption was 1.7 and 1.5 mm at the control and the test sites, respectively. Conclusions: “Flapless” implant placement into extraction sockets did not result in the prevention of alveolar bone resorption and did not affect the dimensional changes of the alveolar process following tooth extraction when compared with the usual placement of implants raising mucoperiosteal flaps. To cite this article:
Caneva M, Botticelli D, Salata LA, Souza SLS, Bressan E, Lang NP. Flap vs. “flapless” surgical approach at immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21 , 2010; 1314–1319.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2009.01959.x