Sika deer antler as a novel model to investigate dental implant healing: A pilot experimental study.

Jo-Ann L Stanton,Luisa Ziegler,Ludger Keilig,Yun He,Istabrak Hasan,Markus Abboud,Werner Götz,Christoph Bourauel,Gerhard Wahl,Dominik Fischer

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200957

Jo-Ann L Stanton, Luisa Ziegler + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200957

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Abstract

Dental implants are important tools for restoring the loss of teeth. The rapid growth and periodic regeneration of antlers make Sika deer a good and less invasive alternative model for studying bone remodelling in mammals. We developed a special loading device for antlers and analysed the bone reaction around unloaded implants and under immediate loading conditions until osseointegration occurred. In micro-computed tomography images, the density of antler tissue around the implants increased as the loading time increased. This finding was histologically confirmed by the good osseointegration observed in unloaded and loaded specimens. Antler tissue displays a similar healing process to human bone. The use of an antler model is a promising alternative for implant studies that does not require animal sacrifice.

Highlights

Dental implants are important tools for restoring the loss of single teeth and fixing tooth implant-supported fixed partial dentures after accidents, disease or age-related loss of teeth [1]
For the specimens that were loaded for 2 weeks post-operatively, the thickness of the antler tissue around the implant was less than 3 mm and was not suitable for histological analysis or bone mineral density (BMD) study
Four time points were selected for removing the samples after immediate loading, namely, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks

Summary

Introduction

Dental implants are important tools for restoring the loss of single teeth and fixing tooth implant-supported fixed partial dentures after accidents, disease or age-related loss of teeth [1]. Dental implants improve the quality of a patient’s life by improving aesthetics and phonetics and by decreasing bone resorption processes in the alveolar ridge. Immediately loaded dental implants offer fast dental restoration and pain relief [1,2]. Research regarding complex bone remodelling processes occurring around dental implants is crucial to improve the function and acceptance of dental implants. In vivo models are required, and animal trials have previously been conducted in pigs and dogs that were.

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