Objectives: To determine the effect of mechanical loading of bone on the stability and histomorphometric variables of the osseointegration of dental implants using an experimental test in an animal model. Materials and Methods: A total of 4 human implants were placed in both tibiae of 10 New Zealand rabbits (n = 40). A 6-week osseointegration was considered, and the rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (Test group) included 5 rabbits that ran on a treadmill for 20 min daily during the osseointegration period; Group B (Controls) included the other 5 that were housed conventionally. The monitored variables were related to the primary and secondary stability of the dental implants (implant stability quotient—ISQ), vertical bone growth, bone to implant contact (BIC), area of regenerated bone and the percentage of immature matrix. Results: The results of the study show a greater vertical bone growth (Group A 1.26 ± 0.48 mm, Group B 0.32 ± 0.47 mm, p < 0.001), higher ISQ values (Group A 11.25 ± 6.10 ISQ, 15.73%; Group B 5.80 ± 5.97 ISQ, 7.99%, p = 0.006) and a higher BIC (Group A 19.37%, Group B 23.60%, p = 0.0058) for implants in the test group, with statistically significant differences. A higher percentage of immature bone matrix was observed for implants in the control group (20.68 ± 9.53) than those in the test group (15.38 ± 8.84) (p = 0.108). A larger area of regenerated bone was also observed for the test implants (Group A 280.50 ± 125.40 mm², Group B 228.00 ± 141.40 mm²), but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.121). Conclusions: The mechanical loading of bone improves the stability and the histomorphometric variables of the osseointegration of dental implants.

This study aims to analyse, using a finite element analysis, the effects of Ti-base abutment height on the distribution and magnitude of transferred load and the resulting bone microstrain in the bone-implant system. A three-dimensional bone model of the mandibular premolar section was created with an implant placed in a juxta-osseous position. Three prosthetic models were designed: a 1 mm-high titanium-base (Ti-base) abutment with an 8 mm-high cemented monolithic zirconia crown was designed for model A, a 2 mm-high Ti-base abutment with a 7 mm-high crown for model B, and a 3 mm-high abutment with a 6 mm-high crown for model C. A static load of 150 N was applied to the central fossa at a six-degree angle with respect to the axial axis of the implant to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of load transfer and microstrain. The results showed a trend towards a direct linear association between the increase in the height of the Ti-base abutments and the increase in the transferred stress and the resulting microstrain to both the prosthetic elements and the bone/implant system. An increase in transferred stress and deformation of all elements of the system, within physiological ranges, was observed as the size of the Ti-base abutment increased.

The placement of bone–level dental implants can lead to the detachment of particles in the surrounding tissues due to friction with the cortical bone. In this study, 60 bone–level dental implants were placed with the same design: 30 made of commercially pure grade 4 titanium and 30 made of Ti6Al4V alloy. These implants were placed in cow ribs following the company’s placement protocols. Particles detached from the dental implants were isolated and their size and specific surface area were characterized. The irregular morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Ion release to the medium was determined at different immersion times in physiological medium. Cytocompatibility studies were performed with fibroblastic and osteoblastic cells. Gene expression and cytokine release were analysed to determine the action of inflammatory cells. Particle sizes of around 15 μM were obtained in both cases. The Ti6Al4V alloy particles showed significant levels of vanadium ion release and the cytocompatibility of these particles is lower than that of commercially pure titanium. Ti6Al4V alloy presents higher levels of inflammation markers (TNFα and Il–1β) compared to that of only titanium. Therefore, there is a trend that with the alloy there is a greater toxicity and a greater pro-inflammatory response.

Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) has been used as a diagnostic method to measure implant stability at all stages of healing. In addition to evaluating the status of the peri-implant marginal bone, it can also indicate the most appropriate time to load the implant. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of RFA as a diagnostic method for the detection of peri-implant marginal bone loss (MBL). Forty bone-level Klockner Vega implants were placed in a polyurethane block with elastic properties similar to those of the maxillary bone. The insertion torque and primary implant stability at the time of placement were measured using an RFA device. A circumferential peri-implant defect was created by removing the cortical bone portion in each implant using a trephine. The stability values were measured again using RFA. The stability values measured using RFA were lower after the creation of the circumferential peri-implant defect, indicating a statistically significant decrease in implant stability. The results of the study tend to show a relationship between peri-implant marginal bone loss and modifications in implant stability measured by RFA.

Background: Although xenografts have shown successful results in GBR procedures due to their osteoconductive properties, many authors have opted to add co-adjuvant drugs to favor osteogenesis and differentiate cells into an osteoblastic lineage. Metformin has been shown to have bone-protective properties, regulating osteoclast differentiation, as well as the ability to promote osteoblast mineralization and differentiation. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the local application of a 1% metformin solution on bone neoformation in the treatment of an experimental bone defect in a guided bone regeneration animal model with a particulated bovine hydroxyapatite xenograft with hyaluronate. Methods: With this purpose in mind, two critical defects with 8 mm diameter and 0.5 mm depth were created in eight male New Zealand rabbit calvarias. Titanium cylinders were fixed in each defect and filled with particulate hydroxyapatite of bovine origin and sodium hyaluronate, with sterile injectable saline added to the control group and sterile 1% metformin solution added to the test group. At 6 weeks, the animals were euthanized, and samples were obtained and prepared for histomorphometric analysis. Results: A higher percentage of new bone formation was observed in the metformin samples than in the control samples, both in the region closest to the animal’s calvaria and in the most distal region analyzed. A higher average bone–biomaterial contact percentage was observed in the samples, with metformin in both the proximal and distal regions. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean value in either region in both parameters. Conclusion: The local application of a 1% metformin solution in an animal model of guided bone regeneration with particulate bovine hydroxyapatite and hyaluronate resulted in greater bone neoformation and xenograft osseointegration than in the control group.

(1) Background: Long-term dental implant performance depends on the interaction between mechanical load distribution and peri-implant tissue response. The influence of implant configuration and vertical placement on marginal bone remodeling and early inflammatory signaling remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare crestally placed tissue-level (TL) and subcrestally placed bone-level (BL) implant configurations regarding marginal bone loss (MBL) and inflammatory biomarkers in the peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF). (2) Methods: In this prospective randomized trial, 58 implants (29 TL, 29 BL) randomly allocated at the implant level were placed in 30 healthy patients; 42 implants (21 TL, 21 BL) in 23 patients were analysed. TL implants were placed at the crestal level, whereas BL implants were positioned 2 mm subcrestally and restored after 2 months using definitive transepithelial abutments (one-time abutment concept). MBL was assessed radiographically at prosthesis delivery, 6 months after loading and at the final follow-up (12–24 months after loading; mean 19.9 months). PICF was collected 6 months after loading to determine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analysed with linear mixed-effects models accounting for clustering of implants within patients and for repeated measurements. (3) Results: At the final follow-up, mean MBL was 0.55 mm for TL and 0.29 mm for BL implants; the between-group difference in change (0.26 mm; 95% CI −0.01 to 0.53 mm) was not statistically significant (p = 0.058). No statistically significant differences were detected in IL-1β (p = 0.723) or MMP-8 (p = 0.777) concentrations, and neither biomarker was significantly associated with bone loss after adjustment. (4) Conclusions: Subcrestally placed BL implants restored with a one-abutment–one-time protocol showed numerically, but not significantly, smaller marginal bone loss than crestally placed TL implants, and the magnitude of the difference was of limited clinical relevance. Because the configurations differed in several respects, the results cannot be attributed to implant design alone.