The periodontal ligament of teeth connected to osseointegrated implants. An experimental study in the beagle dog

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the present investigation was to analyze the periodontal tissues at immobilized teeth connected to osseointegrated implants. 10, 1-year old beagle dogs, were used. Bilaterally, the mandibular 2nd (2P2) and 3rd pre-molars (3P3) and 1st molars (1M1) were extracted. 2 titanium fixtures were installed in the edentulous segment of the right side of the mandible, one about 10 mm mesial and the other about 10 mm distal to 4P (test tooth). 3 months later, abutment connection was performed and healing allowed for one month. The dogs were randomly divided into 2 groups of 5 each, group A and group B. In group A, a fixed gold splint, rigidly connecting the tooth and the 2 implants, was installed on day 0 and 4P was hereby immobilized. The controlateral 4th premolar (P4) served as the non-splinted control tooth. Plaque control measures continued until the end of the experiment (day 180). In group B, plaque control measures were abandoned 1 month after abutment connection and a 4-month period of experimental periodontal tissue breakdown was initiated. This was accomplished by placing cotton floss ligatures submarginally around 4P and P4. At the end of this 4-month period, the ligatures were removed, and an apically positioned flap procedure was performed. Healing was allowed for another 2 months. Plaque control measures were re-established and continued throughout the experiment. A given day was termed day 0 and 4P was rigidly connected to the adjacent implants in the manner described for group A. At the end of a subsequent 6-month period, radiographs of 4P and P4 were taken and biopsies harvested from all the dogs. The results of measurements, made in histological sections, revealed that the splinting of mandibular premolars to osseointegrated implants failed to induce marked alterations (qualitative and quantitative) in the gingiva and periodontal tissues of the immobilized teeth. These findings offer a biological explanation for the fact that a fixed bridge, utilizing both teeth and implants as abutments, seems to function well in the rehabilitation of partially edentulous patients.