title: The effect of a constant electrical field on osseointegration after immediate implantation in dog mandibles: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The long time span between insertion of implants and functional rehabilitation often inconveniences patients. Accelerating bone growth around dental implants can shorten this time span. This in vivo study evaluated the effect of a constant electrical field on bone growth around dental implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four mongrel dogs were used in this study. Sixteen dental implants were placed immediately after extraction of the first premolar and molar teeth. A constant electrical field (CEF) generator was placed in the mucoperiostal pouch created from the subperiostral dissection under the inferior border of the dog's mandible and connected to the experiment side fixtures. CEF provided 3 V of electrical potential during osseointegration. Histologic sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and observed under light microscopy. The sections were analyzed histomorphometrically to calculate the amount of newly formed bone. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 11.0 computer software (alpha= 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the first stage of the osseointegration (90 days) CEF group sections showed enhanced growth of the trabeculae compared with the control group. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between experimental and control groups. Bone contact ratio was statistically significant in the experimental group (p= 0.001). An increase in the local bone formation and bone contact ratio was observed with direct electrical stimulation of the implant and the bone area around the implant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimal direct electrical current, which can produce an electrical field around the implant, can increase the amount of bone formation and decrease the time of osseointegration.
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Yadollah Soleymani
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shayesteh
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eslami
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dehghan
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaziri
authors.forename: Marzyeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alikhassi
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangoli
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khojasteh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008334:Mandible; D016348:Osseointegration