Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Experimental Model of Ligature-Induced Peri-Implantitis in Mice
Published on: May 17, 2024
Ligature-induced peri-implantitis and periodontitis in mice
Sarah Hiyari1, Ryan L Wong1, Aline Yaghsezian1
1Section of Periodontics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Aim:
Peri-implantitis (PI), inflammation around dental implants, shares characteristics with periodontitis (PD). However, PI is more difficult to control and treat, and detailed pathophysiology is unclear. We aimed to compare PI and PD progression utilizing a murine model.
Materials And Methods:
Four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice had their left maxillary molars extracted. Implants were placed in healed extraction sockets and osseointegrated. Ligatures were tied around the implants and second molars. Controls did not receive ligatures. Mice were sacrificed 1 week, 1 and 3 months (n ≥ 5/group/time point) post-ligature placement. Bone loss analysis was performed. Histology was performed for: haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), toluidine blue and calcein.
Results:
PI showed statistically greater bone loss compared to PD at 1 and 3 months. At 3 months, 20% of implants in PI exfoliated; no natural teeth exfoliated in PD. H&E revealed that alveolar bone surrounding implants in PI appeared less dense compared to PD. PI presented with increased osteoclasts, MMP-8 and NF-κB, compared to PD.
Conclusion:
PI exhibited greater tissue and bone destruction compared to PD. Future studies will characterize the pathophysiological differences between the two conditions.
