THE INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED OCCLUSAL OVERLOAD ON PERI-IMPLANT TISSUE - A HISTOLOGIC-STUDY IN MONKEYS

This study examined the influence of controlled occlusal overload on a n implant. An experiment was conducted on five crab-eating monkeys (Ma caca fascicularis) in which overload with no inflammation in the peri- implant tissues was modeled. Two osseointegrated implants were placed into each monkey. After 3 months of osseointegration, superstructures that were excessive by about 100 mu m were mounted on the implants, an d a traumatic occlusal force was experimentally delivered to its impla nt from the lingual to the buccal side. This procedure was performed u nder conditions of good oral hygiene. The monkeys received an excessiv e occlusal force for 1 to 4 weeks and were then immediately sacrificed . The results showed that the implants remained firmly integrated with bone, and all of the subjects that received excessive occlusal force for 1 to 4 weeks showed an absence of gross bone loss. These results s uggest that conditions of occlusal force created by excessively high i mplant-supported superstructures may not destroy the peri-implant tiss ues.