title: Influence of low-level laser treatment on bone regeneration and osseointegration of dental implants following sinus augmentation. An experimental study on sheep.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate if low-level laser treatment (LLLT) enhances bone regeneration and osseointegration of dental implants in a sinus graft model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve sheep underwent a bilateral sinus floor elevation procedure with cancellous bone from the iliac crest. Implant insertion followed 4 weeks (six sheep) and 12 weeks (six sheep) later. Sixteen weeks after second-stage surgery, animals were sacrificed. Unilaterally, the grafted sinus and during the second-stage surgery the implant sites were irradiated intraoperatively and three times during the first postoperative week with a diode laser (75 mW, 680 nm). The overall energy density per irradiation was 3-4 J/cm(2). Biopsies of the augmented area were obtained during implant insertion and after scarification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bone regeneration within the grafted sinus histomorphometric analysis hardly differed between control and test side both 4 and 12 weeks after sinus grafting. Osseointegration measurements resulted in a significantly higher bone/implant contact (BIC) on the test side (P=0.045). Further evaluation of peri-implant bone tends to amount in significant higher percentage on the laser side (P=0.053).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented experimental study on sheep did not confirm a positive LLLT effect on bone regeneration within a cancellous sinus graft. Nevertheless, LLLT possibly has a positive effect on osseointegration of dental implants inserted after sinus augmentation.
authors: Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Jakse
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Payer
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Tangl
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Berghold
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Kirmeier
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Lorenzoni
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000528:radiation effects; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D016014:Linear Models; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D013516:Oral Surgical Procedures, Preprosthetic; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants