Osteocyte density in the peri-implant bone of immediately loaded and submerged dental implants.
BACKGROUND
The role of osteocytes in bone structure and function remains partially unresolved. Their participation in mechanotransduction, i.e., the conversion of a physical stimulus into a cellular response, has been hypothesized. The present study was an evaluation of the osteocyte density in the peri-implant bone of immediately loaded and submerged dental implants.


METHODS
Fourteen male patients were included in the study; all of them were partially edentulous and needed a posterior mandibular restoration. Implants were inserted in these areas; half of the sample was loaded immediately (included in a fixed provisional prosthesis on the same day as implant surgery), whereas the other half was left to heal submerged. Fourteen implants (seven immediately loaded and seven unloaded) were retrieved with a trephine after a healing period of 8 weeks. The specimens were treated to obtain thin ground sections, and histomorphometry was used to evaluate the osteocyte index in the peri-implant bone.


RESULTS
A higher and statistically significant number of osteocytes was found in the peri-implant bone around immediately loaded implants (P = 0.0081). A correlation between the percentage of bone-implant contact and osteocyte density was found for immediately loaded implants (P = 0.0480) but not for submerged implants (P = 0.2667).


CONCLUSIONS
The higher number of osteocytes in the peri-implant bone around immediately loaded implants could be related to the functional adaptation required by the loading stimulus, which also explains the hypothesized involvement of the osteocytes in the maintenance of the bone matrix.
Barros
Raquel R M
RR
Department of Bucco-Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Traumatology and Periodontology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Degidi
Marco
M
Novaes
Arthur B
AB
Piattelli
Adriano
A
Shibli
Jamil A
JA
Iezzi
Giovanna
G
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D003833:Denture, Partial, Temporary; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
D015921:Dental Implants