TISSUE-REACTIONS TO TITANIUM IMPLANTS CONTAINING BOVINE BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN - A SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION

Cylindric titanium implants treated with bovine bone morphogenetic pro tein (bBMP) (Group I) and with bovine serum albumin (BSA) (Group II) w ere implanted in the edentulous mandibles of 15 adult dogs. They were examined 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after insertion of the implants by s canning electron microscopy (SEM). In all specimens from Group I, acti ve bone formation had occurred between the implant and host bone, with a well-adapted fit between the implant and the newly formed bone 4 we eks after implantation. The surrounding bone was of normal structure b y week 8. However, 3 months after implantation, fibrous tissue was con sistently seen surrounding parts of the implants in Group II. The resu lts of this study suggest that the implants treated with bBMP are capa ble of forming new bone of normal structure at a faster rate than BSA controls and that this new bone is closely adapted to the implant surf ace.