E. Schepers et al., IMPLANT PLACEMENT ENHANCED BY BIOACTIVE GLASS PARTICLES OF NARROW SIZE RANGE, The International journal of oral and maxillofacial implants, 13(5), 1998, pp. 655-665
Poor bone quality and quantity are often related to implant failure. S
ynthetic bone grafts may be used to enhance the formation of new bone
in bone defects. The purpose of this animal study was to determine the
efficacy of bioactive glass particles of narrow size range (300 to 33
5 mu m, Biogran) in the treatment of bone defects prior to implant pla
cement. On both sides of the mandible of six beagle dogs, areas of par
tial edentulousness were created by the removal of the intra-alveolar
septa to obtain large defects, instantly filled on one side with bioac
tive glass particles. The other side was left empty as a control. Afte
r a healing period of 4 months, three oral implants each were placed i
n the glass-treated area and in the control zone. In three dogs, the i
mplants were left subgingival for 3 months after which histologic sect
ions were made. In the remaining three dogs, the implants were functio
nally loaded with a fixed partial prosthesis for 7 weeks before sacrif
ice. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of both groups revealed sta
tistically significantly more bone tissue and higher remodeling activi
ty at the interface and at a distance of implants placed in glass-trea
ted areas, compared to implants placed in untreated regions. Implant p
lacement in bioactive glass-filled defects was not jeopardized, on the
contrary.