Objectives: To compare the osseointegration of conventionally and immediately restored tapered implants in a split-mouth animal model, and to compare different methods of analysis for measuring osseointegration.
Materials & Methods: Twenty tapered implants were placed in the posterior mandibles of ten sheep, three months after premolar extractions. Ten control implants were placed and were restored after three months submerged healing. Ten test implants were placed on the contralateral side at this time and immediately restored. Animals were sacrificed after a further three months healing. Resonance frequency analysis (Implant Stability Quotient, ISQ), and standardized radiographs were taken at all stages. Alveolar bone height relative to the implant shoulder was measured on digitized radiographs. Histomorphometric and micro-Computed Tomograph ([mu]CT) morphometric analysis for Bone-to-Implant Contact (BIC) and Bone Density (BD) were performed. Radiographic, stability and morphometric measurements were compared statistically.
Results: Only three (30%) of conventionally restored and two (20%) immediately restored implants survived (p = 0.74). Mean crestal bone level after three months loading differed significantly (control 5.3 � 0.9 mm versus test 0.9 � 1.3 mm; p = 0.02). Control implants lost more crestal bone over three months than test implants but this was not statistically significant (3.5 � 1.0 mm versus 0.7 � 1.0 mm; p = 0.06). The test group showed a higher mean ISQ value (85.4 � 6.9) compared to the control group (72 � 14.4; p = 0.349). Both groups showed a slightly reduced stability during the loaded period. This was more marked for the test group but not statistically significant (-0.5 � 3.8 ISQ versus -4.35 � 6.6 ISQ; p = 0.8). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the loss of crestal bone and ISQ with loading (Pearson�s coefficient of correlation r = -0.473 p = 0.026). Both groups showed a statistically significant difference in BIC for both histomorphometric analaysis (HMA); p = 0.039 and [mu]CT morphometric analysis; p = 0.013. When the two forms of morphometric analysis were compared, HMA and [mu]CT morphometric analysis differed significantly for both BIC (p = 0.05) and BD (p = 0.048). However, a statistically significant correlation was found between the two measuring techniques, for both BIC (r = 0.335 p = 0.013) and BD (r = 0.439 p = 0.01).
Conclusions: The placement of wide-bodied 3i Osseotite NT[TM] tapered implants into sheep mandible resulted in high failure rate regardless of the loading protocol. The sheep mandibular model may be inappropriate as a model for evaluation of immediate loading, and to test implants which are designed for soft bone. Further investigations are needed to look into the variations in bone microstructure along with their impact on the mechanics of implant-bone union. Although a statistically significant difference was found between the two measurement techniques, a positive correlation was found between HMA and [mu]CT morphometric analysis suggesting non-invasive methods may have a potential in assessing osseointegration. Further research is required to optimize the variables in [mu]CT analysis, such as, voltage, filters, and thresholding to minimize artifacts and to maximize bone contrast when titanium implants are present.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/217772 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Kim, James H, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Otago. School of Dentistry |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://policy01.otago.ac.nz/policies/FMPro?-db=policies.fm&-format=viewpolicy.html&-lay=viewpolicy&-sortfield=Title&Type=Academic&-recid=33025&-find), Copyright James H Kim |
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