Influence of homeopathic treatment with comfrey on bone density around titanium implants: a digital subtraction radiography study in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of homeopathic treatment with comfrey (Shymphytum officinalis 6CH) on radiographic bone density and area around titanium implants.


METHODS
Forty-eight rats were divided into two groups of 24 animals each: a control group (C) and a test group (SO). Each animal received one titanium micro-implant placed in the tibia. The animals in Group SO were subjected to 10 drops of comfrey 6CH per day mixed into their drinking water until the day of sacrifice. Eight animals of each group were sacrificed at 7, 14 and 28 days post-surgery, respectively. Standardized digital radiographs were obtained on the day of implant installation (baseline images) and on the day of sacrifice (final images). Digital subtraction of the two corresponding images was performed to evaluate changes in bone density and the area related to change around the implant between baseline and final images.


RESULTS
Subtraction images demonstrated that a significant difference existed in mean shade of gray at 14 days post-surgery between Group SO (mean 175.3+/-14.4) and Group C (mean 146.2+/-5.2). Regarding the area in pixels corresponding to the bone gain in Group SO, the differences observed between the sacrifice periods and groups were only significant at 7 days sacrifice between Group SO (mean 171.2+/-21.9) and Group C (mean 64.5+/-60.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limits of this study, comfrey administration promotes an increase in radiographic bone density around titanium implants in the initial period of bone healing.
Sakakura
Celso Eduardo
CE
Barretos Dental School, Barretos Educational Foundation, São Paulo, Brazil.
Neto
Rubens Spin
RS
Bellucci
Marina
M
Wenzel
Ann
A
Scaf
Gulnara
G
Marcantonio
Elcio
E
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D020844:Comfrey; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D008297:Male; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D014025:Titanium; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D015921:Dental Implants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014025:Titanium