Flapless Implant Surgery Using a Mini‐Incision

Background: Traditional flapless implant surgery using a soft tissue punch device requires a circumferential excision of keratinized tissue at the implant site. A new flapless implant technique that can submerge implant fixtures is needed. Purpose: This article describes a flapless implant surgery method using a mini‐incision and compares the effects of soft tissue punch and mini‐incision surgery on both the amount of osseointegration and the bone height around the implants using a canine mandible model. Materials and Methods: Bilateral, edentulated, flat alveolar ridges were created in the mandibles of six mongrel dogs. After a 3‐month healing period, two implants were placed on each side of the mandible using either soft tissue punch or mini‐incision procedures. After an additional 3‐month healing period, a second stage surgery and transmucosal abutment attachment was performed for mini‐incision implant cases. Following a 2‐month healing period, the dogs were sacrificed to evaluate the osseointegration and bone height around the implants. Results: Average bone height was 9.6 ± 0.4 mm in the soft tissue punch group and 9.8 ± 0.3 mm in the mini‐incision group (p > .05). Average osseointegration was 70.4 ± 6.3% in the soft tissue punch group and 71.2 ± 7.1% in the mini‐incision group (p > .05). No significant differences were noted between the two groups in vertical alveolar ridge height or bone/implant contact. Conclusions: Our findings support the clinical use of mini‐incision implant surgery at sites where implants need to be protected below the soft tissue during the early phase of healing, particularly for patients with poor bone quality and/or low primary implant stability.     

Bone reactions to longstanding functional load at implants: an experimental study in dogs

Objectives: The aims of the present investigation were (i) to study marginal bone level alterations following implant installation, abutment connection and functional loading and (ii) to analyse bone tissue reactions to functional load. Material and Methods: Six beagle dogs, about 1‐year old, were used. All mandibular pre‐molars were extracted. Three months later four implants of the Astra Tech Implants^® Dental System were installed in one side of the mandible and four standard fixtures of the Brånemark System^® were placed in the contralateral side of the mandible. Abutment connection was performed 3 months later and a plaque control programme was initiated. Three months after abutment connection fixed partial dentures (FPDs) made in gold were cemented to the maxillary canines and pre‐molars. FPDs were also connected to the three posterior implants in each side of the mandible, while the mesial implant in each side was used as an unloaded control. Radiographs were obtained from all implant sites following implant installation, abutment connection and FPD placement. Ten months after the FPD placement the radiographic examination was repeated. The animals were sacrificed and biopsies from all implant sites were obtained and prepared for histological analysis. Results: The radiographic analysis revealed that largest amount of bone loss occurred following implant installation and abutment connection and that this loss was more pronounced at Brånemark than at Astra implants. The bone level alterations that were observed at implants exposed to 10 months of functional load in both implant systems were small and did not differ from control sites. The histological analysis revealed that implants exposed to functional load exhibited a higher degree of bone‐to‐implant contact than control implants in both implant systems. Conclusion: It is suggested that functional load at implants may enhance osseointegration and does not result in marginal bone loss.     

Bone level alterations at implants placed in the posterior segments of the dentition: outcome of submerged/non-submerged healing. A 5-year multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Objective: To determine if longitudinal bone level change at Astra Tech^? implants placed in the posterior part of the dentition was influenced by the healing conditions provided following implant placement, i.e., submerged or non‐submerged healing. Material and methods: Eighty‐four patients and 115 fixed partial dentures (FPDs or cases) entered the study. The cases were randomized into two implant installation groups: initially non‐submerged (group A) or initially submerged (group B) implants. Three hundred and twenty‐four implants were installed (group A=153; group B=171): 145 in the maxilla and 179 in the mandible. Radiographs from the implant sites were obtained at FPD insertion (baseline) and subsequently every 12 months. In the radiographs, the position of the marginal bone at the mesial and distal aspects of the implants was determined and the radiographic (Rx) bone level change over time was calculated. Results: Seven implants failed to integrate (four in group A and three in group B). During the 5 years of monitoring, three implants had to be removed and 35 implants were lost to follow‐up. The Rx bone level alteration that occurred during year 1 was 0.02±0.38 mm in group A and 0.17±0.51 mm in group B. During the subsequent 4 years there was some further Rx bone loss in group B (0.02±0.62 mm), while in group A there was some gain of bone (0.07±0.5 mm). Conclusion: The peri‐implant bone level change and number of biological complications that took place during the 5 years was small and unrelated to the surgical protocol used for implant placement.     

Subcrestal placement of two-part implants

Objective: The aim of the present experiment was to study the healing around two-part implants that were placed in a subcrestal position.
Material and methods: Five mongrel dogs, about 2 years old, were included. The mandibular premolars and the first, second and third maxillary premolars were extracted. Three months later two test and two control implants (OsseoSpeed^™, 3.5 mm × 8 mm) were placed in one side of the mandible. The implants were placed in such a way that the implant margin was located 2 mm apical to the bone crest. In the test implants, the surface modification extended to the implant margin and, thus, included the shoulder part of the implant. Regular abutments with a turned surface (Zebra^™) were connected to the control implants, while experimental abutments with a modified surface (TiOblast^™) were connected to the test implants. A plaque control program that included cleaning of implants and teeth every second day was initiated. Four months later the dogs were euthanized and biopsies were obtained and prepared for histological analysis.
Results: The marginal bone level at the test implants was identified in a more coronal position than that at the control implants. In 40% of the test implants, the bone-to-implant contact extended coronal of the abutment/fixture (A/F) border, i.e. in contact with the abutment part of the implant. The connective tissue portion of the peri-implant mucosa that was facing the test abutments contained a higher density of collagen and a smaller proportion of fibroblasts than that at the control sites.
Conclusion: It is suggested that osseointegration may occur coronal to the A/F interface of two-part implants. Such a result, however, appears to depend on the surface characteristics of the implant components.     

The influence of early loading on bony crest height and stability: a pilot study

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective pilot study was to investigate differences in changes in implant stability and crestal bone height between loaded and unloaded dental implants at 4 months after placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the test group, 20 implants were placed in the anterior region of the mandible in 10 patients. They were connected with a Dolder bar within 10 days and placed into function immediately. In the control group, 21 implants were placed in the anterior region of the mandible in a 2-stage procedure in 12 patients. The implants used were TiUnite, with a diameter of 3.75 mm and a minimum length of 10 mm. Resonance frequency analysis was used to measure differences in implant stability, with the implant stability quotient (ISQ) as the unit of measure. An instrument was developed to measure the bone level directly. On a customized abutment, a probe with a stopper measured the distance between the shoulder of the instrument and the bone. Measurements were made on all 4 sides of each implant. Intra- and interexaminer variability showed an agreement that was greater than 99% (kappa > 0.99) for both sets of measurements. RESULTS: In the early loading group, the mean change in ISQ was -0.08 +/- 0.77 and the mean bone loss from buccal, mesial, distal, and lingual sites was 0.69 +/- 0.15 mm. In the unloaded group, the mean change in ISQ was 1.33 +/- 1.65 and the mean bone loss from buccal, mesial, distal, and lingual sites was 0.53 +/- 0.18 mm. There was no statistically significant difference across the 2 treatment groups. The changes in bone height at buccal and lingual sites were not statistically different from the changes at mesial and distal sites. When gender was included as a factor, the changes in stability and bone loss were statistically smaller among female patients than among male patients. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, early loading did not show an influence on bony crest height and stability in TiUnite implants placed in the anterior mandible during the first 4 months of service.     

Evaluation of peri-implant bone loss around platform-switched implants

This clinical and radiographic prospective study evaluated bone loss around two-piece implants that were restored according to the platform-switching protocol. One hundred thirty-one implants were consecutively placed in 45 patients following a nonsubmerged surgical protocol. On 75 implants, a healing abutment 1 mm narrower than the implant platform was placed at the time of surgery. On the remaining implants, a healing abutment of the same diameter as the implant was inserted. All implants were positioned at the crestal level. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed prior to surgery, at the end of surgery, 8 weeks after implant placement, at the time of provisional prosthesis insertion, at the time of definitive prosthesis insertion, and 12 months after loading. The data collected showed that vertical bone loss for the test cases varied between 0.6 mm and 1.2 mm (mean: 0.95 +/- 0.32 mm), while for the control cases, bone loss was between 1.3 mm and 2.1 mm (mean: 1.67 +/- 0.37 mm). These data confirm the important role of the microgap between the implant and abutment in the remodeling of the peri-implant crestal bone. Platform switching seems to reduce peri-implant crestal bone resorption and increase the long-term predictability of implant therapy.     

Different types of inflammatory reactions in peri-implant soft tissues

Abstract The aim of the present study was to analyze some features of the peri-implant mucosa at sites in the dog model which had been exposed to plaque accumulation for periods up to 9 months. The experiment was carried out in 5 labrador dogs. The mandibular right and left 2nd, 3rd and 4th premolars (2P2, 3P3, 4P4) and the 1st molars (1M1) were extracted. Following a 3–month healing period, 3 titanium fixtures (Nobelpharma AB. Göteborg, Sweden) were installed in the edentulous premolar/molar regions. Abutment connection was performed 3 months later and a meticulous plaque control period of 3 months was initiated. A clinical examination was performed at the end of this preparatory period and a main study period of 9 months continued. During this period, the plaque control regimen was maintained in the mesial and central (left: L1, 2 and right: R1, 2) implant segments, whereas plaque was allowed to accumulate on the distal implants, i.e., L3 and R3. At the end of the main study period, i.e., 12 months after abutment connection, the clinical examination was repeated, the animals perfused and biopsies obtained. Semi-thin sections were produced for histo-metric and morphometric analyses. The peri-implant mucosa at implant sites exposed to daily and comprehensive plaque control at biopsy was clinically non-inflamed and the connective tissue lateral to a junctional epithelium was devoid of accumulations of inflammatory cells. On the other hand, termination of the plaque control program resulted in the accumulation of large amounts of plaque and calculus at the titanium abutments and the biopsies harvested from the implant sites after 9 months of plaque formation demonstrated an infiltrate which resided in the marginal portion of the peri-implant mucosa. The histological analysis of the biopsy material also revealed that an inflammatory cell infiltrate was consistently present at the level of borderline between the abutment and the fixture part of the implant. This infiltrate, called abutment ICT, occurred both at sites which had been exposed to plaque control and at sites at which plaque had been allowed to form during a 9–month interval. The histometric determinations disclosed that (i) the bone crest consistently was located about 1–1.5 mm “apical” of the abutment/fixture level, (ii) there was a zone, about 1 mm wide, of a normal non-infiltrated connective tissue that separated the apical portion of the abutment ICT and the bone crest. It is suggested that this infiltrate represents the efforts by the host to close off bacteria present within the implant system and that the establishment of an abutment ICT may explain the 1 mm bone loss observed during the course of the 1st year after bridge installation.     

Radiographic evaluation of dental implants placed using an osteotome technique

BACKGROUND: The osteotome technique has been successfully used for implant placement when a limited vertical height is available at posterior maxilla. However, it is not clear if new bone is formed at the apical portion of the implant placed by this technique without any bone graft. The aim of this study was to radiographically evaluate bone formation around dental implant surfaces exposed to the space created at the sinus floor without the presence of any graft material. METHODS: Forty patients (21 male, 19 female; mean age 46.7 years) who received a total of 75 dental implants together with indirect sinus lifting procedure were included. Initial and 6-month postoperative panoramic films were scanned and analyzed using a commercially available software program. Implants were divided into two groups: initial alveolar bone height <9 mm or > or =9 mm. This helped determine the effect of available bone and exposed implant surface on bone formation in a system where the shortest implant was 8 mm. RESULTS: The mean implant length placed at locations with <9 mm initial bone height (mean 7 +/- 1.3 mm, N = 29 implants) was 11 +/- 1.7 mm; gain in bone height was 3.9 +/- 1.9 mm. At locations where minimum bone height was 9 mm (mean 10.4 +/- 0.7 mm), 44 implants were placed with a 13.5 +/- 1.06 mm mean length. Mean gain in bone height was 2.9 +/- 1.2 mm at these sites. Two implants were lost at stage 2 surgery. The success rate after 25 months of loading was 97.3%. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to radiographically observe a gain of approximately 3 to 4 mm of bone from the sinus floor to the implant apex. The amount of initial alveolar bone height, presence of sinus membrane perforation, and the amount of exposed implant surface appear to play a role in the presence or absence of radiopacity within the elevated sinus floor, following 6 months of healing.     

Early loading of sandblasted and acid-etched implants: a randomized-controlled double-blind split-mouth study. Five-year results

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present split-mouth study is to assess the peri-implant conditions around early-loaded sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) implants, 5 years after abutment connection and to compare, in the same patients, the results obtained with a standard protocol using identical implants with a TPS surface. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Surgical procedure was performed by the same operator and was identical at test (SLA) and control (TPS) sites, in 32 healthy patients. Abutment connection was carried out at 35 N cm 6 weeks postsurgery for test sites and 12 weeks for the controls. Patients were seen regularly, for control and professional cleaning. At 60 months, clinical measures and radiographic bone changes were recorded by the same operator, blind to the type of surface of the implant, on 27 patients, as five patients were lost to follow-up. RESULTS: A total number of 106 implants were examined. No implant was lost. No significant differences were found with respect to the presence of plaque [modified plaque index (mPI) 0.27+/-0.56 vs. 0.32+/-0.54], bleeding on probing (29% vs. 32%), mean pocket depth (3.2+/-1 vs. 3.2+/-1 mm) or mean marginal bone loss (0.32+/-1.04 vs. 0.44+/-1.12 mm) between test and control. Four implants that presented 'spinning' at the time of abutment connection presented no significant differences from the rest of the test sites. CONCLUSION: The results of this prospective study confirm that SLA implants, under defined conditions, are suitable for early loading at 6 weeks in both the mandible and the maxilla. Limited implant spinning, occasionally found at abutment connection, produces no detrimental effect on the clinical outcome when properly handled.     

Influence of various implant platform configurations on peri-implant tissue dimensions: an experimental study in dog

Aim: To evaluate the influence (i) of various implant platform configurations and (ii) of implant surface characteristics on peri‐implant tissue dimensions in a dog model. Material and methods: Mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted bilaterally in six Labrador dogs. After 3 months of healing, two implants, one with a turned and a second with a moderately rough surface, were installed on each side of the mandible in the premolar region. On the right side of the mandible, implants with a tapered and enlarged platform were used, while standard cylindrical implants were installed in the left side of the mandible. Abutments with the diameter of the cylindrical implants were used resulting in a mismatch of 0.25 mm at the tapered implant sites. The flaps were sutured to allow a non‐submerged healing. After 4 months, the animals were sacrificed and ground sections were obtained for histometric assessment. Results: All implants were completely osseointegrated. A minimal buccal bone resorption was observed for both implant configurations and surface topographies. Considering the animals as the statistical unit, no significant differences were found at the buccal aspect in relation to bone levels and soft tissue dimensions. The surface topographies did not influence the outcomes either. Conclusions: The present study failed to show differences in peri‐implant tissue dimensions when a mismatch of 0.25 mm from a tapered platform to an abutment was applied. The surface topographies influence a neither marginal bone resorption or peri‐implant soft tissue dimension. To cite this article:
Baffone GM, Botticelli D, Pantani F, Cardoso LC, Schweikert MT, Lang NP. Influence of various implant platform configurations on peri‐implant tissue dimensions: an experimental study in dog.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 22 , 2011; 438–444.     

Osteotome sinus floor elevation without grafting material: a 1-year prospective pilot study with ITI implants

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate: (1) the predictability of an osteotome sinus floor elevation procedure with ITI-SLA implants without placing a bone grafting material, and (2) the possibility to gain bone height without filling the created space with a bone grafting material. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen patients received 25 implants protruding in the sinus. Most implants (21/25) were 10 mm long, eight were inserted in type 2 bone, 12 in type 3 and five in type 4 bone. At implant placement, the mean residual bone height (RBH) under the maxillary sinus was 5.4+/-2.3 mm; it was 5.7+/-2.6 mm on the mesial side and 5.1+/-1.9 mm on the distal side. Nineteen implants had less than 6 mm of bone on at least one side and six implants had less than 6 mm on both sides. A healing period of 3-4 months was allowed before abutment tightening at 35 Ncm. The percentage of stable implants at abutment tightening and at the 1-year control was calculated. The endo-sinus bone gain and the crestal bone loss (CBL) at the mesial and distal sides were measured. RESULTS: Abutments were tightened after 3.1+/-0.4 months. All implants but one (96%) resisted the applied 35 Ncm torque. At the 1-year control, all implants were clinically stable and supported the definitive prosthesis. All showed endo-sinus bone gain; the mean gain was 2.5+/-1.2 mm. The mean CBL was 1.2+/-0.7 mm. Endo-sinus bone gain and RBH showed a strong negative correlation (r=-0.78 on the mesial side and -0.80 on the distal side). A good correlation (r=0.73) was found between implant penetration in the sinus and endo-sinus bone gain. CONCLUSION: Elevation of the sinus membrane alone without addition of bone grafting material can lead to bone formation beyond the original limits of the sinus floor. Despite a limited RBH at implant placement, a healing period of 3 months was sufficient to resist a torque of 35 N cm and to lead to a predictable implant function at the 1-year control.     

An oxidized implant surface may improve bone-to-implant contact in pristine bone and bone defects treated with guided bone regeneration: an experimental study in dogs

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to histometrically evaluate bone healing in the absence of bone defects and in the presence of surgically created bone defects treated by guided bone regeneration at oxidized and turned implant surfaces. METHODS: Three months after dental extractions, standardized buccal dehiscence defects (height: 5 mm; width: 4 mm) were surgically created following implant site preparation in the mandible of 10 dogs. Oxidized-surface implants (OSI) and turned-surface implants (TSI) were inserted bilaterally, and the bone defects were treated by guided bone regeneration. After 3 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed, blocks were dissected, and undecalcified sections were obtained and processed for histometric analysis. The percentage of bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone density (BD) was evaluated inside the threads on the buccal (regenerated bone) and lingual sides (pristine bone) of the implants. Data were evaluated using two-way analysis of variance (P <0.05). RESULTS: New bone formation could be observed in OSI and TSI in the region of the defect creation. The BIC values observed in OSI for pristine and regenerated bone were 57.03% +/- 21.86% and 40.86% +/- 22.73%, respectively. TSI showed lower values of BIC in pristine bone (37.39% +/- 23.33%) and regenerated bone (3.52% +/- 4.87%). The differences between OSI and TSI were statistically significant. BD evaluation showed no statistically significant differences between OSI and TSI in pristine and regenerated bone. CONCLUSION: The oxidized implant surface promoted a higher level of BIC than the turned implant surface at pristine and regenerated bone.     

Bone regeneration at implants with turned or rough surfaces in self-contained defects. An experimental study in the dog

BACKGROUND: Marginal hard tissue defects present at implants with a rough surface can heal with a high degree of bone fill and osseointegration. The healing of similar defects adjacent to implants with a smooth surface appears to be less predictable. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare bone healing at implants with turned or rough surface topographies placed in self-contained defects using either a submerged or non-submerged installation technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six dogs were used. Three months after tooth extraction four experimental sites were prepared for implant installation in both sides of the mandible. The marginal 5 mm of the canal prepared for the implant was widened. Thus, following implant placement a circumferential gap occurred between the bone tissue and the implant surface that was between 1 and 1.25 mm wide. In each side of the mandible two implants with a turned surface and two implants with a rough surface were installed. The implants in the right side were fully submerged, while a non-submerged technique was applied in the left side. The animals were sacrificed 4 months later, block biopsies of each implant site were dissected and ground as well as paraffin sections were prepared. RESULTS: The marginal defects around rough surface implants exhibited after 4 months of healing substantial bone fill and a high degree of osseointegration following either the submerged or the non-submerged installation technique. Healing at turned implants was characterized by incomplete bone fill and the presence of a connective tissue zone between the implant and the newly formed bone. The distance between the implant margin (M) and the most coronal level of bone-to-implant contact (B) at implants with a rough surface was 0.84+/-0.37 mm at submerged and 0.90+/-0.39 mm at non-submerged sites. The distance M-B at implants with a turned surface was 3.39+/-0.52 mm at submerged and 3.23+/-0.68 mm at non-submerged sites. The differences between the rough and turned implants regarding the length of distance M-B were statistically significant (paired t-test). CONCLUSION: Osseointegration at implants placed in sites with marginal defects is influenced by the surface characteristics of the implant.     

Bone tissue reaction around implants placed in a compromised jaw

Abstract. The present experiment was carried out to examine bone tissue alterations that occurred around implants at which the marginal level of bone support at fixture installation was different at buccal and lingual surfaces. 8 beagle dogs were randomly divided into one test group and one control group. The mandibular premolars in the left side of the mandible (P1, P2, P3, P4) were extracted. In the 4 dogs of the test group, the buccal bone plate in the mandibular premolar region was removed to establish a bone defect that was about 25 mm long, about 5–6 mm high, and about 4 mm wide. In the 4 dogs of the control group, no bone resection was performed. 8 months after tooth extraction, 3 fixtures (Astra Tech AB, Mölndal, Sweden;TiO-blast; 8×3.5 mm) were installed in each dog. In the 4 dogs of the test group, the implants were positioned in the defect sites in such a way that (i) mechanical stability was achieved and (ii) their lingual surfaces were entirely invested in bone. At the buccal and approximal surfaces of the fixtures, however, the unthreaded portion (2 mm) and the 3 marginal threads remained exposed. In the control group, all implants were following installation entirely surrounded by bone tissue. After a healing period of 3 months, abutment connection was performed and a plaque control program initiated. 4 months later, the dogs were sacrificed. The mandibles were removed and placed in a fixative. Each implant region was dissected, the tissue samples were dehydrated, embedded, sectioned in a bucco-lingual plane and used for light microscopic examination. The findings demonstrated that osseointegration occurred at implants, placed in a chronic defect with large discrepancies between the buccal and lingual bone. During the process of healing and function, however, marked modeling and remodeling of the bone tissue took place. Thus, at the buccal surface, some bone regrowth and osseointegration occurred while at the lingual wall, there was a substantial resorption of the marginal bone and an enhanced number of bone multicellular units. Concomitant with the bone tissue alterations described, there was some recession of the peri-implant mucosa.     

Osseointegration on implant surfaces previously contaminated with plaque. An experimental study in the dog

This study investigated whether osseointegration can occur on a surface which had previously been coated with dental plaque. The mandibular premolar regions of four young adult Labrador dogs were used for the study. The lower premolars (P1, P2, P3, and P4) were extracted on either side of the mandibles. Following a 12-week healing period, three 3.75 mm x 13 mm commercially pure titanium implants (Nobel BiocareAB, Gothenburg, Sweden) were partially inserted in one side of each mandible. This resulted in some threads protruding from the tissues into the oral cavity. Plaque was allowed to accumulate on the exposed implant surfaces. Following a 5-week healing period, the contaminated parts of each implant were treated using three different cleaning techniques: (1) swabbing with supersaturated citric acid for 30 s on a cotton pellet followed by rinsing with physiological saline, (2) cleansing with a toothbrush and physiological saline only for 1 min, and (3) swabbing with 10% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on a cotton pellet for 1 min followed by rinsing with physiological saline. The treated implants and one previously unused implant (control) were then placed into freshly prepared tapped sites to the full implant length on the contralateral sides of the mandibles. Following 11 weeks of healing, biopsies were obtained and ground sections prepared for histomorphometric analysis. All treatment modalities were associated with direct bone to implant contact on the portion of implant surface previously exposed to the oral environment. In conclusion, The results demonstrate that osseointegration can occur to surfaces that were plaque contaminated and cleaned by different methods.     

Early loading (2 or 6 weeks) of sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) ITI implants in the posterior mandible. A 1-year randomized controlled clinical trial

The aim of this 1-year prospective controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of early loading of ITI solid screw titanium implants with a sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) surface on clinical and radiographic parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutively admitted patients presenting bilateral edentulous posterior mandibular areas and in need of prosthetic reconstruction were recruited. Sixty-seven ITI standard solid screw implants with an SLA surface, a diameter of 4.1 mm and a length of 8, 10 or 12 mm were installed bilaterally in molar and premolar areas according to a one-stage surgical protocol. One week (test) and 5 weeks (control) after implant placement, solid ITI prosthetic abutments were connected using a torque of 35 N cm. No provisional restoration was fabricated. Two weeks (test) and 6 weeks (control) after implant placement, porcelain-fused-to-metal single-tooth crowns were cemented. Clinical measurements were obtained at day 0 and 2, 6, 12, 24 and 52 weeks thereafter. Periapical radiographs were taken immediately after implant placement, after 6 weeks and at the 1-year examination. RESULTS: After 1 year, implant survival was 100%. Two test and one control implants rotated at the time of abutment connection and were left unloaded for 12 additional weeks. At the 1-year examination, no statistically significant differences were found between the test and control sites with respect to pocket probing depths (2.6 mm +/- 0.5 vs. 2.7 mm +/- 0.5), mean clinical attachment levels (3.1 mm +/- 0.4 vs. 3.2 mm +/- 0.5), mean percentages of sites bleeding on probing (9.7% vs. 8.3%), mean widths of keratinized mucosa (1.8 mm +/- 0.4 vs. 1.9 mm +/- 0.5), mean PerioTest values (-1.4 PTV +/- 0.9 vs. -1.6 PTV +/- 0.8) or mean crestal bone loss measurements (0.57 mm +/- 0.49 vs. 0.72 mm +/- 0.50). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, loading of titanium implants with an SLA surface as early as 2 weeks did not appear to jeopardize the osseointegration healing process in the posterior mandible. Furthermore, implants rotating at 35 N cm, if left unloaded for additional 12 weeks, did not negatively affect clinical and radiographic outcomes.     

Bone healing pattern in surgically created circumferential defects around submerged implants: an experimental study in dog

Objective: To describe the healing of marginal defects below or above 1 mm of dimension around submerged implants in a dog model. Material and methods: In 12 Labrador dogs, all mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted bilaterally. After 3 months of healing, full‐thickness flaps were elevated in the edentulous region of the right side of the mandible. Two recipient sites were prepared and the marginal 5 mm were widened to such an extent to obtain, after implant installation, a marginal gap of 0.5 mm at the mesial site (small defect) and of 1.25 mm at the distal site (large defect). Titanium healing caps were affixed to the implants and the flaps were sutured allowing a fully submerged healing. The experimental procedures were subsequently performed in the left side of the mandible. The timing of the experiments and sacrifices were planned in such a way to obtain biopsies representing the healing after 5, 10, 20 and 30 days. Ground sections were prepared and histomorphometrically analyzed. Results: The filling of the defect with newly formed bone was incomplete after 1 month of healing in all specimens. Bone formation occurred from the base and the lateral walls of the defects. A larger volume of new bone was formed in the large compared with the small defects. Most of the new bone at the large defect was formed between the 10‐ and the 20‐day period of healing. After 1 month of healing, the outline of the newly formed bone was, however, located at a similar distance from the implant surface (about 0.4 mm) at both defect types. Only minor newly formed bone in contact with the implant, starting from the base of the defects, was seen at the large defects (about 0.8 mm) while a larger amount was detected at the small defects (about 2.2 mm). Conclusion: Marginal defects around titanium implants appeared to regenerate in 20–30 days by means of a distance osteogenesis. The bone fill of the defects was, however, incomplete after 1 month. To cite this article:
Rossi F, Botticelli D, Pantani F, Pereira FP, Salata LA, Lang NP. Bone healing pattern in surgically created circumferential defects around submerged implants: an experimental study in dog.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res 23 , 2012; 41–48.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2011.02170.x     

Does excessive occlusal load affect osseointegration? An experimental study in the dog

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of excessive occlusal load following placement of titanium implants in the presence of healthy peri-implant mucosal tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mandibular bilateral recipient sites in six Labrador dogs were established by extracting premolars and molars. After 3 months, two TPS (titanium plasma sprayed) implants and two SLA (sandblasted, large grit, acid etched) implants were placed on each side of the mandible in each dog. Three implants were lost in the initial healing phase, leaving 45 implants for evaluation. Following 6 months of healing, gold crowns were placed on implants on the test side of the mandible. The crowns were in supra-occlusal contact with the opposing teeth in order to create excessive occlusal load. Implants on the control side were not loaded. Plaque control was performed throughout the experimental period. Clinical measurements and standardised radiographs were obtained at baseline and 1, 3 and 8 months after loading. At 8 months, the dogs were killed and histologic analyses were performed. RESULTS: At 8 months, all implants were osseointegrated. The mean probing depth was 2.5+/-0.3 and 2.6+/-0.3 mm at unloaded and loaded implants, respectively. Radiographically, the mean distance from the implant shoulder to the marginal bone level was 3.6+/-0.4 mm in the control group and 3.7+/-0.2 mm in the test group. Control and test groups were compared using paired non-parametric analyses. There were no statistically significant changes for any of the parameters from baseline to 8 months in the loaded and unloaded implants. Histologic evaluation showed a mean mineralised bone-to-implant contact of 73% in the control implants and 74% in the test implants, with no statistically significant difference between test and control implants. CONCLUSION: In the presence of peri-implant mucosal health, a period of 8 months of excessive occlusal load on titanium implants did not result in loss of osseointegration or marginal bone loss when compared with non-loaded implants.     

Initial healing in the dog of submerged versus non‐submerged porous‐coated endosseous dental implants

It has previously been reported that porous‐coated root form endosseous dental implants, became well integrated when used in the traditional 2‐stage surgical approach. In this study, the placement of the implant in a 1‐stage (non‐submerged)technique was to be explored. Implants were placed in the mandibles of dogs, and 2 designs were used differing only in that one (experimental) had a 3mm transgingival extension, permitting it to be exposed lo the oral cavity from the outset. 12 (3 per animal) non‐submerged implants were placed on I side of 4 beagle dogs and 12 control (submerged) implants were placed contralaterally. All implants were allowed to heal for 6 weeks, after which histological preparations were made. 2 of 12 non‐submerged implants were lost due to post‐operative complications: otherwise, all implants healed uneventfully. Histomorphometric analysis revealed bone‐implant contact, as assessed by absolute bone contact (ABC) and contact length fraction (CLF). to be greater for the submerged design, suggesting that bone healing may be delayed with the non‐submerged approach. As well. at this early stage of healing, for both implant designs, ABC and CLF were significantly greater on proximal than on buccal and lingual aspects.     

Submerged or non-submerged healing of endosseous implants to be used in the rehabilitation of partially dentate patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bone-level alterations that occurred at implants of the Astra Tech(R) System that were placed in the load carrying, posterior parts of the dentition using either a submerged (two-stage) or a non-submerged (one-stage) installation protocol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients that required 115 fixed partial dentures (FPDs or cases) entered the prospective study. All subjects were assigned one patient and > or =one case numbers. For the randomization of cases, a custom-made program based on balanced random permuted blocks was utilized. The cases were assigned to two treatment groups, namely one-stage installation procedure, non-submerged technique (group A) and two-stage installation procedure, submerged technique (group B). Several subjects contributed with cases to both groups A and B. Periodontal, endodontal and open caries lesions were treated prior to implant installation. All patients received careful oral hygiene instruction and training in self-performed plaque control measures. The surgical technique used for fixture installation followed the outline described in the manual for the Astra Tech System. The FPDs were placed 3 months (mandible) and 6 months (maxilla) following implant installation. Immediately following FPD placement, a baseline examination was performed that included assessment of plaque, soft-tissue inflammation and bone level. Clinicians who were otherwise not involved in the study performed the radiographic measurements. Clinical and radiographical examinations were repeated once a year after the baseline examination. DATA ANALYSIS: The primary outcome variable was the change in the bone level at the implants from the time of placement of the bridge (FPD) to the 1- and 2-year reexaminations. Fisher's permutation test was used to test if differences existed between groups A and B, and between patients (men/women, smokers/non-smokers, age), sites (maxilla/mandible) and implants (length, diameter). Pitman's test was used to study correlations between bone shape and quality data and different radiographic bone-level data. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that tissue healing following implant installation appeared to be independent of the surgical protocol, i.e. whether the marginal portions of the implants during surgery were fully or only partly submerged under the ridge mucosa. Thus, (i) in both treatment groups the number of implants that failed to osseointegrate (early failures) was small (<2%); (ii) at the end of the recommended periods of bone healing prior to loading, - in both groups, maxilla=6 months and mandible=3 months - the level of the marginal bone was close to the coronal rim of the fixture; group A: 1.54+/-0.92 mm, group B: 1.31+/-0.77 mm. The current study also demonstrated that irrespective of surgical protocol (two-stage, one-stage), implants supporting the FPDs exhibited only small amount of radiographic bone loss during the first year of function (group A: 0.02+/-038 mm, group B: 0.17+/-0.64 mm). Moreover, during the second year of function, the amount of additional bone loss that occurred in the two treatment groups was close to zero. CONCLUSION: Periimplant bone-level change during function seemed to be unrelated to whether initial soft- and hard-tissue healing following implant installation had occurred under submerged or non-submerged conditions.