Bone tissue reaction around implants placed in a compromised jaw

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: 8x3.5 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.