Short-Term Administration of Parathyroid Hormone Improves Wound Healing Around Implants in an Osteoporotic Rat Model

Background/Objectives: Intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration increases bone quantity. Existing animal studies have revealed improvements in tissue healing around implants after PTH administration. It is still unclear whether PTH has a beneficial short-term effect on the early healing of bone and soft tissue around implants in individuals with osteoporosis. The current study aims to examine whether short-term intermittent PTH administration accelerates and improves early tissue healing around implants in ovariectomized rats. Methods: Ovariectomized rats received implants at the healed sites of extracted maxillary first molar sockets 12 weeks after the ovariectomy surgery. A daily dose of PTH was subcutaneously administered in the test group, whereas saline was administered for the control group. Long bones and maxillae were harvested 1 week after PTH administration. The following criteria were assessed: quantity and quality of long bones and peri-implant bone, bone healing around the implants, and soft tissue healing. Results: PTH significantly increased the bone parameters of long bones. Moreover, the bone volume around the implant increased significantly compared to controls. Improved bone quality was indicated through PTH administration by increased numbers of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, as well as decreased quantities of sclerostin + osteocytes. Furthermore, PTH administration significantly improved soft tissue healing, promoted collagen production and angiogenesis, and increased the numbers of macrophages in the connective tissue around the implants. Conclusions: Short-term intermittent PTH administration significantly accelerates soft tissue healing, which could lead to enhanced early osseous healing and bone formation around implants. Thus, Intermittent PTH administration might be considered as an available treatment modality for dental implants in osteoporosis patients.