Bone-to-implant contact of orthodontic implants in humans subjected to horizontal loading

Implant-based anchorage in orthodontics is increasingly obtaining significance. In this study, implants were temporarily inserted into the mid-palatal and the mandibular retromolar areas in humans for orthodontic anchorage. Histological analysis of the implant-bone interface was performed following the retrieval of implants which were subjected to prolonged oblique orthodontic loading. The results of the histomorphometric evaluation indicated that all the implants serving for orthodontic anchorage were well integrated into the bone despite the prolonged application of the orthodontic loading. Hence, it may be concluded that small-size, one-part transmucosal implants with a self-tapping thread and an SLA surface seemed to provide adequate anchorage for orthodontic therapy. Furthermore, the successful integration and the subsequent oblique loading of these orthodontic implants provide evidence that continuous forces in the order of magnitude of 2-6 N are compatible with the maintenance of osseointegration.