Bone density around titanium implants may be influenced by intermittent cigarette smoke inhalation: a histometric study in rats.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the influence of cigarette smoke on bone healing around titanium implants placed in rats.


METHODS
After administration of anesthesia, the tibia surface was exposed and screw-shaped titanium implants (4.0 mm in length and 2.2 mm in diameter) were placed bilaterally (1 each side). The animals (n = 32) were randomly assigned to either group 1 (control, n = 18) or group 2 (intermittent cigarette smoke inhalation, n = 14). After 60 days, the animals were sacrificed and undecalcified sections obtained. Bone density (the proportion of mineralized bone in a 500-microm-wide zone lateral to the implant) was measured in the cortical (zone A) and cancellous bone (zone B) areas.


RESULTS
In zone A, a slight difference in bone density was noted between the groups (96.18% +/- 1.08% and 95.38 +/- 1.17% in groups 1 and 2, respectively; P > .05) but was not statistically significant. In contrast, bone density was significantly decreased in zone B in the animals that were exposed to cigarette smoke (17.57 +/- 6.45% and 11.30 +/- 6.81% for groups 1 and 2, respectively; P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Whether different results would be observed if animals were exposed to cigarette smoke for a longer period of time and/or before implant placement remains to be investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
Although intermittent cigarette smoke exposure may not seriously affect cortical bone density, it may jeopardize bone quality around titanium implants in the cancellous bone area.
Nociti
Francisco Humberto
FH
Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontics, School of Dentistry at Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. nociti@fop.unicamp.br
César
Neto João Batista
NJ
Carvalho
Marcelo Diniz
MD
Sallum
Enilson Antonio
EA
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D015921:Dental Implants; D008297:Male; D016348:Osseointegration; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D015921:Dental Implants; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D014025:Titanium