Dental Implant Osseointegration Following Mandibular Augmentation Using 3D Printed Hydroxyapatite Blocks....

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Large mandibular bone defects pose challenges for dental implant placement.
• Novel bone graft substitutes are needed to facilitate osseointegration and bone regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of 3D-printed hydroxyapatite (3DHA) blocks with gyroid porosity for mandibular bone augmentation.
• To assess the osseointegration of dental implants placed in augmented sites.

Main Methods:

• Mandibular lateral bone augmentation using gyroid-3DHA blocks in Göttingen minipigs.
• Dental implant placement into 3DHA blocks after 8 or 12 weeks of healing.
• Histological and histomorphometric analysis of bone formation and implant integration.

Main Results:

• Gyroid-3DHA blocks facilitated easy fixation and implant placement with good primary stability.
• Significant bone gain (average 4.73 mm) and new bone formation (39.17%) within 3DHA blocks.
• Comparable bone-to-implant contact (BIC) in 3DHA and native bone.

Conclusions:

• 3D-printed gyroid-3DHA blocks demonstrate good osseointegration and significant bone augmentation.
• This approach is a promising solution for large and complex alveolar ridge augmentations.
• This is the first animal study evaluating 3D-printed bone substitutes with dental implants for augmentation.