BMP stimulation of bone response adjacent to titanium implants in vivo

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone morphogeneti c protein (BMP) on the bond strength of titanium (Ti) implants at the bone- implant interface. Thirty-six Branemark screw implants (3.75 mm diameter by 15 mm long) were implanted for 3 and 12 weeks. At 3 weeks after implantati on, the mean reverse torque value for implants stimulated with BMP delivere d using an atelopeptide type-I collagen carrier (74.2 +/- 5.2 N cm) was obs erved to be statistically greater (P < 0.000016) than the mean reverse torq ue value for control Ti implants (32.8 +/- 1.1 N cm). Similarly, at 12 week s after implantation, the mean reverse torque value for implants stimulated with BMP (89.2 +/- 2.7 N cm) was statistically greater (P < 0.0042) than t he mean reverse torque value for control Ti implants (75.8 +/- 2.4 N cm). I n addition, histomorphometric evaluations indicated more bone contact with the BMP stimulated implant surfaces compared to the controls after 3 weeks implantation. It was concluded from this study that the use of BMP-atelopep tide type-I collagen mixture is an effective means of obtaining greater bon d strength at the bone-implant interface within a shorter time period than Ti implants without BMP.