Bone response to unloaded titanium implants in the fibula, iliac crest, and scapula: an animal study in the Yorkshire pig

The reconstruction of extended maxillary and mandibular defects with prefabricated free flaps is a two stage procedure, that allows immediate function with implant supported dentures. The appropriate delay between prefabrication and reconstruction depends on the interfacial strength of the bone-implant surface. The purpose of this animal study was to evaluate the removal torque of unloaded titanium implants in the fibula, the scapula and the iliac crest. Ninety implants with a sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) surface were tested after healing periods of 3, 6, and 12 weeks, respectively. Removal torque values (RTV) were collected using a computerized counterclockwise torque driver. The bicortical anchored 8mm implants in the fibula revealed values of 63.73 Ncm, 91.50 Ncm, and 101.83 Ncm at 3, 6, and 12 weeks, respectively. The monocortical anchorage in the iliac crest showed values of 71.40 Ncm, 63.14 Ncm, and 61.59 Ncm with 12 mm implants at the corresponding times. The monocortical anchorage in the scapula demonstrated mean RTV of 62.28 Ncm, 97.63 Ncm, and 99.7 Ncm with 12 mm implants at 3, 6, and 12 weeks, respectively. The study showed an increase of removal torque with increasing healing time. The interfacial strength for bicortical anchored 8mm implants in the fibula was comparable to monocortical anchored 12 mm implants in the iliac crest and the scapula at the corresponding times. The resistance to shear seemed to be determined by the type of anchorage (monocortical vs. bicortical) and the length of the implant with greater amount of bone-implant interface.     

A comparative study of removal torque of endosseous implants in the fibula, iliac crest and scapula of cadavers: Preliminary report

This study was undertaken to compare removal torque of endosseous implants in the fibula, iliac crest and scapula of cadavers. The fibulae, iliac crests and scapulae were harvested from the right side of 5 formalin‐preserved cadavers. Endosseous implants (Brinemark System®) were placed at 3 points of each bone. The removal torque of the implant was measured by a torque gauge manometer (Tohnichi 15 BTG‐N). After measurement of there moval torque, the bone was cut at each implant site. The thicknesses of cortical and total bone were measured, The mean removal torques were 46.3 N cm in the fibulae, 15.2 N cm in the iliac crests and 2 1.4 N cm in the scapulae. There was a statistically significant difference in mean removal torque between the three bones. The total bone thicknesses were 11.7 mm in the fibulae, 9.9 mm in the iliac crests and 8.2 mm in the scapulae. The cortical bone thicknesses were 5.0 mm in the fibulae, 1.6 mm in the iliac crests and 1.8 mm in the scapulae. Significant correlation between the removal torque and the cortical bone thickness was found. However there was no significant correlation between the removal torque and the total bone thickness. In conclusion, the implants inserted in the fibulae showed the highest removal torques as compared to the ones inserted in the iliac crests and the scapulae. Moreover the removal torque was related to the thickness of the cortical bone in the implant sites.     

Bone remodeling in immediately loaded and unloaded titanium dental implants: a histologic and histomorphometric study in humans

Remodeling is thought to prevent microdamage accumulation caused by repetitive loading and to increase the fatigue life of bone. The bone remodeling rate (BRR) is the period of time needed for new bone to replace the existing bone and to allow for the adaptation of bone to its environment. BRR is expressed as a percentage or volume of new bone within a specific time period. The aim of the present study was to evaluate bone remodeling events on submerged and immediately loaded dental implants. Twelve patients with edentulous mandibles participated in this study. All patients were rehabilitated with fixed mandibular prostheses, with 10 dental implants per patient. An additional implant was inserted in the most distal posterior mandibular jaw region. In 6 patients, these additional implants were loaded with a fixed provisional prosthesis the same day of the implant surgery and loaded. In the other 6 patients, the additional implants were left submerged and not loaded. After 6 months, all the additional implants were retrieved with a trephine. The percentage of woven and lamellar bone, number of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, and percentage of bone labeled by tetracycline at 0.5 mm and 2 mm from the implant surface were evaluated. The percentage of lamellar bone, number of osteoblasts, and percentage of bone tetracycline labeling was significantly higher in the loaded implants than in the unloaded implants (P =.0001). Also in the loaded implants, the percentage of woven and lamellar bone, number of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, and percentage of bone tetracycline labeling was significantly higher at 0.5 mm than at 2 mm from the implant surface (P =.0001). No such differences were found in unloaded implants (P =.377). In conclusion, we found that (1) loading appeared to stimulate bone remodeling at the interface, (2) a higher percentage of lamellar bone was found in loaded implants, (3) the percentage of bone labeling was higher at the interface of loaded implants, (4) no differences were found in the BRRs between immediately loaded and unloaded implants, and (5) immediate loading had not interfered on the lamellar bone formation at the interface and had not produced formation of woven bone at the interface.     

In vivo performance of zirconia and titanium implants: a histomorphometric study in mini pig maxillae

Objectives: To compare the bone tissue response to surface‐modified zirconia (ZrO₂) and titanium implants. Methods: Cylindrical low‐pressure injection moulded zirconia (ZrO₂) implants were produced with an acid‐etched surface. Titanium implants with identical shape, sandblasted and acid‐etched surface (SLA) served as controls. Eighteen adult miniature pigs received both implant types in the maxilla 6 months after extraction of the canines and incisors. The animals were euthanized after 4, 8 and 12 weeks and 16 zirconia and 18 titanium implants with the surrounding tissue were retrieved, embedded in methylmethacrylate and stained with Giemsa–Eosin. The stained sections were digitized and histomorphometrically analysed with regard to peri‐implant bone density (bone volume/total volume) and bone–implant contact (BIC) ratio. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney' U‐test. Results: Histomorphometrical analysis showed direct osseous integration for both materials. ZrO₂ implants revealed mean peri‐implant bone density values of 60.4% (SD ± 9.9) at 4 weeks, 65.4% (SD ± 13.8) at 8 weeks, and 63.3% (SD ± 21.5) at 12 weeks after implantation, whereas Ti‐SLA implants demonstrated mean values of 61.1% (SD ± 6.2), 63.6% (SD ± 6.8) and 68.2% (SD ± 5.8) at corresponding time intervals. Concerning the BIC ratio, the mean values for ZrO₂ ranged between 67.1% (SD ± 21.1) and 70% (SD ± 14.5) and for Ti‐SLA between 64.7% (SD ± 9.4) and 83.7% (SD ± 10.3). For the two parameters investigated, no significant differences between both types of implants could be detected at any time point. Conclusion: The results indicate that there was no difference in osseointegration between ZrO₂ implants and Ti‐SLA controls regarding peri‐implant bone density and BIC ratio. To cite this article :
Gahlert M, Roehling S, Sprecher CM, Kniha H, Milz S, Bormann K. In vivo performance of zirconia and titanium implants: a histomorphometric study in mini pig maxillae.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23 , 2012; 281–286.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2011.02157.x     

Osseointegration of titanium alloy and HA-coated implants in healthy and ovariectomized animals: a histomorphometric study

Objectives: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the response to dental implants in healthy and osteoporotic bone.
Materials and methods: Ten ovariectomized (OVX) New Zealand rabbits submitted to a hypocalcic diet and 10 sham-aged rabbits were used. All animals were submitted to bone mineral density (BMD) measurements before ovariectomy, and also 4 months afterwards, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD measurements showed a significant loss of bone mass, between the first and second examinations, only in the experimental group ( P <0.05). After the bone mass loss induction period, three different implants were installed in the proximal tibia metaphisis of each animal: a titanium alloy implant (Ti), a plasma-spray hydroxyapatite-coated implant (HA-PS), and another implant coated with hydroxyapatite with the biomimetic process (HA-B).
Results: After 3 months, histomorphometry showed a bone-to-implant contact (BIC) for Ti implants of 73.09±13.74% in healthy and 66.09±30.01% in OVX animals. The BIC for the HA-PS was 64.83±15.65% and 90.17±8.14% for healthy and OVX animals, respectively, and 88.66±5.30% and 87.96±10.71% for the HA-B implants placed in the same conditions. The differences between the implants in healthy and OVX conditions were not statistically significant ( P >0.05). The only significant difference within groups was observed in the healthy animals between HA-B and Ti implants ( P <0.06).
Conclusion: Within the parameters used in this animal model it was not possible to observe BIC differences between osteoporotic and healthy animals.     

Calvarial versus iliac crest for autologous bone graft material for a sinus lift procedure: a histomorphometric study

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare, through histomorphometric analysis, the use of donor autogenous bone graft from calvarial or iliac sources for maxillary sinus lift procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients requiring maxillary sinus augmentation were included in this study. One group of 10 patients was alternatively selected to receive autologous calvarial bone particles, and another group of 6 patients received autologous iliac bone particles. Five months after surgery, bone biopsy specimens were obtained at the time of implant procedure and analyzed through histomorphometry. To compare mean values between the calvarial and iliac crest groups, the Student t test was performed. The level for statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: All patients completed the healing period following sinus augmentation procedure without complications. In the calvarial group, an average total bone volume (BV) of 73.4% +/- 13.1% was found. Nonvital bone constituted an average of 5.5% +/- 6.3% of the total tissue volume. The percentage of vital bone (VB) showed an average of 67.9% +/- 16.1%. In the iliac group, the average total bone volume was 46.6% +/- 17.4%, with an average of 12.6% +/- 7.7% of NVB and an average of 34.0% +/- 21.5% of VB. A significant difference was observed between calvarial and iliac bone grafts with respect to BV, VB, and NVB (P < .05). CONCLUSION: From this present histomorphologic study, it might be concluded that grafted bone obtained from calvarial sources for sinus lift procedure presented a significantly higher degree of bone volume and vital bone volume in contrast to bone harvested from the iliac crest.     

Osseointegration of commercial microstructured titanium implants incorporating magnesium: a histomorphometric study in rabbit cancellous bone

Objective: Recent studies have suggested that magnesium (Mg) ions exert a beneficial effect on implant osseointegration. This study assessed the osseointegration of nanoporous titanium (Ti) surface incorporating the Mg produced by hydrothermal treatment in rabbit cancellous bone to determine whether this surface would further enhance bone healing of moderately rough‐surfaced implants in cancellous bone, and compared the result with commercially available micro‐arc oxidized Mg‐incorporated implants. Material and methods: The Mg‐incorporated Ti surfaces (RBM/Mg) were obtained by hydrothermal treatment using an alkaline Mg‐containing solution on grit‐blasted moderately rough (RBM) implants. Untreated RBM and recently introduced Mg‐incorporated microporous Ti implants produced by micro‐arc oxidation (M) were used controls in this study. The surface characteristics were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and optical profilometry. Twenty‐four threaded implants with a length of 10 mm (eight RBM implants, eight RBM/Mg implants and eight M implants) were placed in the femoral condyles of 12 New Zealand White rabbits. Histomorphometric analysis was performed 4 weeks after implantation. Results: Hydrothermally treated and untreated grit‐blasted implants displayed almost identical surface morphologies and R_a values at the micron‐scale. The RBM/Mg implants exhibited morphological differences compared with the RBM implants at the nano‐scale, which displayed nanoporous surface structures. The Mg‐incorporated implants (RBM/Mg and M) exhibited more continuous bone apposition and a higher degree of bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC) than the untreated RBM implants in rabbit cancellous bone. The RBM/Mg implants displayed significantly greater BIC% than untreated RBM implants, both in terms of the all threads region and the total lateral length of implants (P<0.05), but no statistical differences were found between the RBM/Mg and M implants except BIC% values in total lateral length. Conclusion: These results indicate that a nanoporous Mg‐incorporated surface may be effective in enhancing the osseointegration of moderately rough grit‐blasted implants by increasing the degree of bone?implant contact in areas of cancellous bone. To cite this article :
Park J‐W, An C‐H, Jeong S‐H, Suh J‐Y. Osseointegration of commercial microstructured titanium implants incorporating magnesium: a histomorphometric study in rabbit cancellous bone.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23 , 2012; 294–300.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.02144.x     

Comparison of bone reactions to coated tricalcium phosphate and pure titanium dental implants in the canine iliac crest

Abstract — Titanium and TCP-coated implants were compared after insertion in the canine iliac crest. Observation time was 14 wk. Evaluation included pull-out tests, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and histologic examination of in situ , undemineralized implants. The TCP-coated implants were more firmly attached to bone than were the titanium implants. The calcium/ phosphorus ratios around the titanium implants were higher than around the TCP-coated implants. Both types of implants were closely surrounded by bone after a 14-wk implantation.     

Comparison of bone reactions to coated tricalcium phosphate and pure titanium dental implants in the canine iliac crest

Titanium and TCP-coated implants were compared after insertion in the canine iliac crest. Observation time was 14 wk. Evaluation included pull-out tests, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and histologic examination of in situ, undemineralized implants. The TCP-coated implants were more firmly attached to bone than were the titanium implants. The calcium/phosphorus ratios around the titanium implants were higher than around the TCP-coated implants. Both types of implants were closely surrounded by bone after a 14-wk implantation.     

Bone response to submerged, unloaded implants inserted in poor bone sites: a histological and histomorphometrical study of 8 titanium implants retrieved from man

An important parameter that influences the long-term success of oral implants is the bone quality of the implant bed. Posterior areas of the jaws have been avoided in implant dentistry because of their poor bone quality, higher chewing forces, and presumed higher implant failure rates. Several researchers have deemed soft bone implant sites to be a great potential risk situation, and most failures have been found in sites where the bone density was already low. The inferior success rates in the posterior maxilla have been attributed to a lower bone density and a lesser bone-implant interface. The aim of the present study was a histological and histomorphometrical analysis of the bone response to submerged implants inserted in posterior areas of the human jaws and retrieved, for different causes, after healing periods varying from 6 weeks to 12 months. Eight submerged implants that had been retrieved for different causes after different healing periods were evaluated in the present study. All implants were submerged and unloaded. Three implants had been removed for inadequate patient adaptation, 2 for inability of the implant to meet changed prosthetic needs, 1 for not optimal position from esthetic and hygiene aspects, and the last 2 for pain and dysesthesia. All the implants were retrieved with a 5-mm trephine bur. Newly formed peri-implant bone was found in all implants even after shorter healing periods. The bone-implant contact percentage varied from 30% to 96%. In conclusion, some surfaces have an improved characteristic of contact osteogenesis in soft bone, with coverage of the implant surface with a bone layer as a base for intensive bone formation and remodeling. We documented osseointegration of implants with a rough surface even after an insertion period of less than 2 months, both in the mandible and in the maxilla. From these results, we tentatively extrapolate that these implants might be carefully loaded after 2 months of healing, even when inserted in soft bone. A higher removal torque value might lead to a more predictable use of shorter implants, to a support of a prosthesis with fewer implants, or to shorter healing periods.     

Early cellular responses in cortical bone healing around unloaded titanium implants: an animal study

BACKGROUND: A clear understanding of the early cellular events leading to osseointegration of implants is currently lacking. To gain better insight, titanium implants were inserted in a rabbit model and histologic and histomorphometric analyses were performed at early time points after insertion. METHODS: Thirty-six cylindrical implants were inserted in the tibial diaphysis of six rabbits and left to heal for 1 to 42 days. Samples were processed into paraffin or methylmethacrylate sections, on which the surface of new bone, region of altered nuclear morphology, relative surface of basic multicellular units (BMUs) and blood vessels, and bone-to-implant contact were measured. RESULTS: After coagulum formation, osteoclasts and osteoblasts were observed at the bone surface 1 week after healing. In the preexisting bone, osteocytic lacunae appeared to be devoid of cells. This region of altered nuclear morphology continued to extend for 28 days (P <0.05) after implant insertion. This expansion was accompanied by an invasion of the damaged bone by BMUs that initiated intensive bone remodeling, which reached its maximum after 4 weeks (P <0.05) but was ongoing after 6 weeks of implant insertion. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated the early cellular events in cortical bone surrounding titanium implants. The insertion of an implant into bone initiates a series of biologic processes, including the formation of a hematoma, altered nuclear morphology of the osteocytes surrounding the implantation site, intensive bone remodeling, and the formation of new bone, eventually leading to the osseointegration of the implant.     

Osseointegration of titanium implants with SLAffinity treatment: a histological and biomechanical study in miniature pigs

Purpose

Electrochemical oxidation following sandblasting and acid-etching (SLA) treatment has received interest as a surface modification procedure for titanium (Ti) implants (denoted as an SLAffinity surface); however, little information is available on its impacts on the in vivo performance of SLAffinity-Ti implants. The present study evaluated the osseointegration and biomechanical bone-tissue response to SLAffinity-Ti implants with micro- and nanoporous oxide layers.

Materials and methods

The interaction between blood and the tested implants was examined. In total, 144 implants with the following surfaces were used: a standard machined (M-Ti), an SLA-Ti, and an SLAffinity-Ti surface. For each animal, four implants (one M-Ti, one SLA-Ti, and two SLAffinity-Ti) were inserted into the mandibular canine-premolar area for histomorphometric observations and another four implants were inserted into the flat surface on the anteromedial aspect of the rear tibia for removal torque (RT) tests. After 2, 4, and 8 weeks of implantation, histomorphometric and RT tests were conducted.

Results

Interactions between blood and implants were better for implants with the SLAffinity-Ti surface. RT tests showed a significant improvement in fixation strength for SLAffinity-Ti implants (84.5?±?8.7 N-cm) after 8 weeks compared to M-Ti (62.95?±?11.5 N-cm) and SLAffinity-Ti (76.1?±?6.6 N-cm) implants. A histological evaluation showed that osseous integration had occurred with all implants after 8 weeks. SLAffinity-Ti implants exhibited 28.5?±?6.2 % bone-to-implant contact (BIC) at 2 weeks and 84.3?±?8.1 % at 8 weeks. M-Ti implants exhibited BIC levels of 17.0?±?5.4 and 76.5?±?6.3 %, whereas SLA-Ti implants exhibited BIC levels of 28.5?±?6.2 and 81.1?±?8.4 % at corresponding time intervals. In terms of the peri-implant bone area (BA), values for SLAffinity-Ti implants ranged from 29.5?±?4.1 to 88.3?±?3.0 %. For M-Ti implants, values ranged from 20.3?±?5.5 to 81.7?±?4.2 %. For SLA-Ti implants, values ranged from 23.0?±?3.5 to 84.0?±?3.6 %.

Conclusions

Electrochemical oxidation increased the oxide layers and improved the blood interaction with SLAffinity-Ti implants, resulting in significantly higher bone apposition with the SLAffinity-Ti implants after 2 and 8 weeks of healing. An increase in resistance for the RT of SLAffinity-Ti implants over the 8-week healing period was also observed.

Clinical relevance

The use of SLAffinity-Ti implants has potential for improvement of early osseointegration.

     

Histologic and histomorphometric comparison of immediately placed hydroxyapatite-coated and titanium plasma-sprayed implants: a pilot study in dogs.

The purpose of this pilot study was to make a histologic and histomorphometric comparison of hydroxyapatite-(HA) coated and titanium plasma-sprayed (TPS) root-form implants that were placed in 2 mongrel dogs immediately after extraction of mandibular premolars. After 8 weeks of healing, the implant-containing segments of the mandible were removed en bloc and bone blocks including implants were sectioned. Histologic and histomorphometric analyses were performed by evaluating bone sections. The mean bone contact percentage of HA-coated implants was 61.84 +/- 7.84%, with a range of 52.09% to 75.7%, and the mean bone contact percentage of TPS implants was 51.35 +/- 12.1%, with a range of 30.1% to 70.6%. This pilot study suggests that HA-coated implants placed into fresh extraction sockets can achieve better bone contact than TPS implants, but there was evidence that the surface of the HA layer can be resorbed, so long-term stability of HA coatings in immediate implantation must be investigated.     

A histomorphometric and biomechanical study of the effect of delayed titanium implant placement in irradiated rabbit bone

Background: The time interval from irradiation to implant surgery has been considered an impact factor for implant integration in irradiated bone and the importance of a long interval between the radiation trauma and reconstructive bone surgery has been suggested. Purpose: The present study was undertaken to histomorphometrically and biomechanically analyze the effect of delayed implant placement on bone healing around titanium implants in irradiated bone. Materials and Methods: Rabbits were given a single dose of 15 Gy Cobalt⁶⁰ radiation to one hind leg, the other hind leg serving as a control. Titanium screws were inserted into the femur and tibia directly and at 12 weeks and 52 weeks after irradiation. The implants were evaluated after a healing time of 8 weeks. The torques necessary for removal of the implants were measured. Histomorphometry with respect to bone‐metal contact and amount of bone surrounding the implants was performed. Results: The biomechanical force necessary to unscrew the titanium implants in the irradiated bone was significantly increased after a resting period of 1 year between irradiation and implant placement, compared to direct implant placement. The histornorphometric evaluation showed an improvement of bone healing around the implants in the irradiated bone, both after a resting period of 12 weeks and after 1 year compared to direct implant placement. Conclusions: It is concluded that a relatively long interval between irradiation and reconstructive bone surgery will improve osseointegration of titanium implants in irradiated rabbit bone.     

Histological and biomechanical evaluation of phosphorylcholine-coated titanium implants

Objective: Compounds considered for drug delivery from oral implant surfaces in support of local bone formation might themselves influence osseointegration. Phosphorylcholine (PC) polymers have been shown to enhance the biocompatibility of medical devices and to serve as drug delivery systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate local bone formation and osseointegration at PC and positively charged PC (PC+)‐coated endosseous implants in an established rabbit model. Material and Methods: Sixteen adult female New Zealand White rabbits were used. Eight animals received PC‐coated and control titanium porous oxide surface implants placed in the left and right distal femural condyle (trabecular bone) and proximal tibial metaphysis (cortical bone) using aseptic routines. The remaining eight animals similarly received PC+ and control implants. One implant was placed in each femural condyle and two implants in each tibial metaphysis. Experimental and control implants were alternated between the left and right hind legs. Fascia and skin were closed in layers. The animals were euthanized following a 6‐week healing interval for biomechanical (removal torque) and histometric analyses. Results: Peri‐implant bone density was considerably greater at tibial compared with femoral sites within as well as immediately outside the implant threads. However, there were no significant differences in bone density among PC, PC+, and control implants. Nevertheless, bone–implant contact was significantly lower at PC compared with PC+ and control implants in cortical bone (p<0.05). Numerical differences in trabecular bone did not reach statistical significance. The removal torque evaluation revealed significantly lower values for PC compared with PC+ and control sites (p<0.05). Conclusion: The histometric and biomechanical analyses suggest that PC coating may influence biological processes and ultimately osseointegration of endosseous implants. Apparently, incorporation of cationic charges may reverse or compensate for this scenario. Nevertheless, both PC coatings exhibited clinically acceptable osseointegration. In perspective, PC technology appears to be a viable candidate delivery system for agents in support of local bone formation at endosseous implant surfaces.     

A removal torque and histomorphometric study of commercially pure niobium and titanium implants in rabbit bone

Screw-shaped commercially pure (c.p.) niobium and c.p. titanium implants were inserted in rabbit bone. After a healing period of 3 months, a significantly higher removal torque was demonstrated to unscrew the niobium implants (average 32.9 Ncm) compared to the c.p. titanium implants (average 25.3 Ncm). In the histomorphometric part of the study, there were no significant differences in bone-to-metal contact between the 2 implant materials. An average of 41.1% bony contact was demonstrated for the niobium screws compared to an average of 37.2% for the c.p. titanium ones. Our removal torque findings could be related to the differences that we observed between the 2 implant surfaces as indicated by SEM. Since niobium implants showed a more irregular surface topography and niobium is a softer metal than c.p. titanium, this seems the most probable reason for the differences observed in removal torque between the 2 metals. Hypothetically, a more "positive biocompatibility" of the c.p. niobium in comparison to the c.p. titanium remains as another possible reason for the observed differences. However, against such a difference in biocompatibility between c.p. niobium and c.p. titanium, there is the very similar amount of bony contact registered in the histomorphometric analysis.