BONE-TO-IMPLANT CONTACT OF ORTHODONTIC IMPLANTS IN HUMANS SUBJECTED TO HORIZONTAL LOADING

Implant-based anchorage in orthodontics is increasingly obtaining sign ificance. in this study, implants were temporarily inserted into the m id-palatal and the mandibular retromolar areas in humans for orthodont ic anchorage. Histological analysis of the implant-bone interface was performed following the retrieval of implants which were subjected to prolonged oblique orthodontic loading. The results of the histomorphom etric evaluation indicated that all the implants serving for orthodont ic anchorage were well integrated into the bone despite the prolonged application of the orthodontic loading. Hence, it may be concluded tha t small-size, one-part transmucosal implants with a self-tapping threa d and an SLA surface seemed to provide adequate anchorage for orthodon tic therapy. Furthermore, the successful integration and the subsequen t oblique loading of these orthodontic implants provide evidence that continuous forces in the order of magnitude of 2-6 N are compatible wi th the maintenance of osseointegration.