Effect of constant strain rate, composed of varying amplitude and frequency, of early loading on peri-implant bone (re)modelling.
OBJECTIVE
Examine the effect of varying components of strain rate -- amplitude versus frequency -- while maintaining a constant strain rate of early controlled mechanical loading on implant stability, peri-implant bone mass and bone-to-implant contact.


METHODS
Three groups of guinea-pigs received TiO2 -blasted implants in both tibiae. One week after installation test implants were loaded 5 days/week during 4 weeks. The contra-lateral implants were the unloaded controls. Strain rate was kept constant (1600 micro epsilon/s), while amplitude and frequency were varied per group. Implant stability was followed by resonance frequency analysis. Animals were sacrificed, and ground sections were prepared to rate bone-to-implant contact and bone mass.


RESULTS
All implants (n=78) integrated uneventfully. A significant positive effect (p=0.03) of early loading on bone mass was observed in the distal medullar cavity. A significant difference in bone mass between test and control implants was evidenced between the groups (p=0.03 and 0.04). A significant increase in implant stability and bone-to-implant contact could not be shown.


CONCLUSIONS
Early controlled stimulation of peri-implant bone is related to amplitude/frequency and not to strain rate as such, considering a constant stimulation time. An increase of bone mass around early-loaded implants was shown. This cortical bone model is most sensitive to low-frequency/high-amplitude stimulation.
De Smet
E
E
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry/BIOMAT Research Group, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Surgery, K U Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, Belgium.
Jaecques
S V N
SV
Jansen
J J
JJ
Walboomers
F
F
Vander Sloten
J
J
Naert
I E
IE
D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013977:Tibia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D014732:Vibration
D000497:Alloys; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003722:Dental Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium