IMPLANT PLACEMENT ENHANCED BY BIOACTIVE GLASS PARTICLES OF NARROW SIZE RANGE

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.