Clinical application of bisphosphonates in implant dentistry : histomorphometric evaluation

Bisphosphonates are pharmacologic compounds characterized by high tropism to bone tissue. They affect bone metabolism by inhibition of osteoclast recruitment, proliferation, differentiation, and function. Because they can reduce bone resorption, bisphosphonates are used mainly for the treatment of osteometabolic conditions, particularly osteoporosis, Paget disease, multiple myeloma, and other solid tumors with bone metastases. Their use has conferred great benefits to patients affected by these diseases, significantly improving their quality of life. Bisphosponates' inhibition of bone resorption might be exploited to maintain implant primary stability during the process of implant osseointegration. The aim of this histologic clinical study was to compare the response of bone tissue around an implant treated with a bisphosphonate solution (test) to that of the bone around an untreated implant (control). The bisphosphonate-treated implant showed more contact with newly formed bone than the control implant.