Background: It has been demonstrated that a gap of about 1 mm that following implant installation exists between the bone wall and the metal surface can heal with a high degree of bone fill and osseointegration. Objective: The aim of the present animal experiment was to study bone healing at implant sites with circumferential bone defects of varying dimension. Material and methods: Four Labrador dogs were used. All mandibular premolars and 1st molars were extracted. After 3 months of healing, five experimental sites were identified. Traditional implant installation was performed in one site (control). In two test sites the marginal 5 mm of the prepared canal was widened to 5.3 mm and in the remaining two sites to 7.3 mm. Custom-made implants with a SLA (Sand-blasted, Large-grit, Acid-etched) surface, 3.3x10 mm, were placed and circumferential gaps of 1.25 and 2.25 mm were hereby created. A resorbable membrane (BioGide®) was placed over the defect sites and soft tissue flaps were placed to cover all implant sites and secured with sutures. 4 months later block biopsies of each implant site were obtained and prepared for ground sectioning. Results: Both the 1.25 and 2.25 mm wide marginal defects were filled with newly-formed bone. The mean distance between the implant margin and the most coronal level of bone-to-implant contact was 0.56 mm ±0.19 at the control sites and 0.54 mm ±0.38 and 0.75 mm ±0.50 at the 1.25 and 2.25 mm wide defects, respectively. The degree of bone-to-implant contact within the defect area at the test sites and within the corresponding area at the control units varied between 64.7% and 66.9%. Conclusion: A 2.25 mm wide marginal defect can heal with newly-formed bone and a high degree of osseointegration to an implant designed with a SLA surface.

Study supported by grants from ITI-Foundation.

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