Electrical stimulation of osteogenesis in pathological osseous defects.

Abstract

Although the literature on bioelectric phenomena is extensive, there is a paucity of research on its application in the field of dentistry. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of bioelectrical stimulation on pathological osseous defects in the periodontium of Beagle dogs. Galvanic and thermocouple generators were designed to deliver a current in the nanoampere range. The galvanic unit produced a constant direct current. The thermocouple unit was designed to deliver an oscillating dc current. The generators were implanted in the area of periodontal osseous defects in five dogs. These sites were randomly designated as experimental, active controls, and passive controls. The experimental and control units were implanted submucoperiosteally with the negative electrodes extending into osseous defects. The bone was labeled with Procion Red H-8BS at 1 week. Clinical and radiographic evaluation revealed no significant changes in the depth of the defects. The animals were sacrificed at 45 days and block sections were prepared for histological measurement. From the results of this study it was concluded: 1. Induced constant or oscillating negative dc current levels in the nanoampere range were unsucessful in causing regeneration of periodontal osseous defects either clinically or radiographically in the Beagle dog over a 45-day period of application. 2. Constant or oscillating negative dc current levels in the nanoampere range did not stimulate a significant amount of periosteal osseous apposition. 3. Oscillating negative nanoampere dc currents produced an increase in endosteal osseous apposition as compared to controls. 4. Constant negative dc current in the nanoampere range produced an increase in endosteal osseous apposition as compared to controls. 5. The histological density of the bone in the area of pathological periodontal defects was increased in all experimental sites as compared to controls. 6. Devices of comparable size and construction to both the galvanic and thermocouple electronic units used in this study are acceptable for future investigation of the effect of bioelectrical stimulation on osteogenesis in alveolar bone.