Alendronate therapy may be effective in the prevention of bone loss around titanium implants inserted in estrogen-deficient rats.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated whether alendronate (ALD) influences bone healing around titanium implants inserted in ovariectomized rats and whether it provides a residual effect after its withdrawal.


METHODS
Bilateral ovariectomies were performed in 87 Wistar rats and one screw-shaped titanium implant was placed in the tibiae. The animals were divided into the following groups: group SHAM (N = 15): sham surgeries; group OVX (N = 15): ovariectomy; group AT (N = 15): OVX plus alendronate administration for 80 days; group AW (N = 14): OVX plus alendronate administration for 40 days; group ET (N = 14): OVX plus 17beta estradiol administration for 80 days; or group EW (N = 14): OVX plus 17beta estradiol administration for 40 days. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC), bone area (BA) within the limits of implant threads, and bone density in a 500 microm-wide zone lateral to the implant (BD) were obtained and measured for the cortical (zone A) and cancellous (zone B) regions.


RESULTS
In zone A, data analysis showed no significant differences among the groups regarding BIC and BD (P >0.05), and a slight beneficial effect of estradiol on BA when compared with the OVX, EW, and AW groups (P <0.05). In zone B, OVX negatively impacted bone healing around the implants, resulting in reduced BA and BD (P<0.05). ALD (continuous/interrupted) and estradiol (only continuous) positively affected BIC, BA, and BD, resulting in values at the same level as the control group (SHAM).


CONCLUSIONS
ALD may prevent the negative influence of estrogen deficiency on bone healing around titanium implants inserted in OVX rats. This positive effect, in contrast to estradiol, is sustained following its withdrawal.
Duarte
Poliana Mendes
PM
Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontics, School of Dentistry at Piracicaba, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
de Vasconcelos Gurgel
Bruno César
BC
Sallum
Antonio Wilson
AW
Filho
Getúlio Rocha Nogueira
GR
Sallum
Enilson Antonio
EA
Nociti
Francisco Humberto
FH
D019386:Alendronate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014025:Titanium
D003722:Dental Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; D004967:Estrogens; D004958:Estradiol; D014025:Titanium; D019386:Alendronate