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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials
Published on: August 13, 2019
Alveolar ridge augmentation using implants coated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7
Cristiano Susin1, Mohammed Qahash, Giuseppe Polimeni
1Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, Augusta, GA, USA. csusin@mcg.edu
Background:
Pre-clinical studies have shown that recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) coated onto purpose-designed titanium porous-oxide surface implants induces clinically relevant bone formation and osseointegration. The objective of this study was to examine the potential of rhBMP-7, also known as recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 (rhOP-1), coated onto titanium porous-oxide surface implants to support vertical alveolar ridge augmentation and implant osseointegration.
Materials And Methods:
Bilateral, critical-size, 5 mm, supraalveolar peri-implant defects were created in six young adult Hound Labrador mongrel dogs. The animals received implants coated with rhBMP-7 at 1.5 or 3.0 mg/ml randomized to contra-lateral jaw quadrants. The mucoperiosteal flaps were advanced, adapted, and sutured to submerge the implants for primary intention healing. The animals received fluorescent bone markers at 3, 4, 7, and 8 weeks post-surgery when they were euthanized for histological evaluation.
Results:
Without striking differences between treatments, the implant sites exhibited a swelling that gradually regressed to become hard to palpation disguising the implant contours. The histological evaluation showed robust bone formation; the newly formed bone assuming characteristics of the contiguous resident bone, bone formation (height and area) averaging 4.1+/-1.0 versus 3.6+/-1.7 mm and 3.6+/-1.9 versus 3.1+/-1.8 mm(2); and bone density 56%versus 50% for implants coated with rhBMP-7 at 1.5 and 3.0 mg/ml, respectively. Both treatments exhibited clinically relevant osseointegration, the corresponding bone-implant contact values averaging 51% and 47%. Notable peri-implant resident bone remodelling was observed for implants coated with rhBMP-7 at 3.0 mg/ml.
Conclusions:
rhBMP-7 coated onto titanium porous-oxide surface implants induces clinically relevant local bone formation including osseointegration and vertical augmentation of the alveolar ridge, the higher concentration/dose associated with some local side effects.
