EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION ON TITANIUM DENTAL IMPLANT OSSEOINTEGRATION IN THE MICROPIG

THE EFFECT THAT DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION may have on peri-implant supporti ng alveolar tissues is not well understood. Fifty-four (54) titanium d ental implants were inserted into the posterior mandible of nine micro pigs. At implant placement surgery, 18 implants were exposed to either 2 (diagnostic) or 10 (excessive) doses of diagnostic radiation; the r emaining 36 implants served as controls. Fourteen weeks after implant placement, standardized clinical radiographs were taken, pigs were eut hanized, and implants with supporting alveolar tissues were prepared a nd examined by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ninety-se ven sections were evaluated by SEM for morphometric and morphologic an alyses. The mean percent of implant length in contact with bone was 47 % for the controls and 53% for the implants receiving radiation. Five implants were lost during the initial healing phase and four implants were clinically mobile at time of euthanasia, giving a success rate of 83% (45/54). Correlative light microscopy of periimplant supporting t issues revealed no distinct differences between the microvasculature o f controls versus implants exposed to radiation. Standardized clinical radiographs revealed crestal saucerization in both control and radiat ed implants. This study revealed no statistically significant differen ce for the percent of implant length in contact with alveolar bone for controls or implants exposed to 2 or 10 doses of diagnostic radiation at implant placement time.