Histologic observations of bone remodeling adjacent to endosteal dental implants

To examine bone morphology associated with endosteal dental implants at various time intervals, we inserted 20 one-stage and 20 two-stage titanium blade implants and 20 one-stage and 20 two-stage titanium root-form implants into 30 dog mandibles. Sixteen implants in 6 control (c) dogs (in situ five months) did not receive bridgework. Sixty-four implants in 24 dogs supported bridges for six, 12, 18, or 24 months. The entire area of the mandible containing the implants was examined by routine light and Nomarski differential interference microscopy (NM) for bone morphology (including osteon orientation) at the implant surface and at regions away from the implant. Control root-form implants were apposed by woven bone, with homogenous compact bone in the cortical plate distant to the implant. After 6 mo of load, immature bone was predominant apposing the implant, but initial osteonal maturation was apparent. NM clearly demonstrated the interstitial and concentric lamellae of the bone. Surprisingly, compact bone formed internal to the cortical plate, an area where trabecular bone is expected. At later periods of load, more mature osteons were seen apposing the implants; however remodeling events were still apparent. These remodeling events extend further away from the implant than was expected if the events resulted only from surgical repair. Also, when the implant inclined so that half was totally in the cortical plate and half in the marrow (in trabecular patterns), osteonal bone appeared to remodel in both areas. Control blade implants and blades loaded for six months were apposed by immature osteons when the implant was placed into the cortical plate. A trabecular meshwork was inferior to the osteonal bone. At 12 mo of load, the bone internal to the cortical plate appeared similar to the lamina dura supporting teeth; however, no PDL existed; the lamina-dura-like pattern directly apposed the implant. Even after 24 mo of load, extensive bone remodeling was apparent adjacent to the implant, markedly different from the bone making up the existing cortical plate. From these data, remodeling activities to blade implants may involve the development of a lamina-dura-like bone morphology after longer periods of load. Osteonal bone was apparent, but only at regions where the implant was inserted into the cortical plate. Further, bone remodeling was apparent even after long periods of load.