Influence of low-level laser treatment on bone regeneration and osseointegration of dental implants following sinus augmentation. An experimental study on sheep.
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.
Jakse
Norbert
N
Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
Payer
Michael
M
Tangl
Stefan
S
Berghold
Andrea
A
Kirmeier
Robert
R
Lorenzoni
Martin
M
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
D015921:Dental Implants