Implant Stability Following Osseointegration of Dental Implants in Bone Sites Reconstructed with Novel Porous Titanium Scaffold

Abstract

Porous titanium (porous Ti) possesses excellent mechanical strength and three-dimensional structure. Therefore, it enables bone formation due to its good osteoconduction abilities. Osseointegration can be achieved at the implant site after bone reconstruction with porous Ti. This study aimed to assess implant stability following osseointegration at sites reconstructed with porous Ti. Hollow-shaped porous Ti were placed in the tibiae of six New Zealand white rabbits. Ti dental implants were placed 4 weeks later. Implant placed at the parent bone sites, without porous Ti, served as the controls. Histological and histomorphometric assessments of the porous Ti and control sites were performed 4 weeks later. There was no significant difference in the insertion torque between the porous Ti and control groups. The primary and secondary implant stability quotient value was higher in the porous Ti group than that in the control group. Histologically, bone reconstruction was achieved with porous Ti through osteoconduction into the original bone region and bone marrow region, as osseointegration of implants was achieved even in the bone marrow region. The bone-implant contact ratio was similar in both the groups; however, the bone-implant contact was mainly in the cortical region in the control group. In the present study, the reconstructed bone site with porous Ti showed favorable osseointegration ability when the dental implant was placed. Porous Ti is expected to be a suitable material for bone material before implant placement.