Effects of local melatonin application on implant osseointegration.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of local melatonin administration on bone osseointegration around implants in rabbit tibiae.


METHODS
Ten female, 6-month-old New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group, where five rabbits were treated with local application of melatonin (3 mg) to implant sites when placed into the rabbit tibia, and the control group, those who where without additive materials. Four weeks later, animals were sacrificed; tibiae were dissected from soft tissues and fixed in buffered formaldehyde, and then included in methacrylate. Histological sections were performed to be studied under light microscopy and analyzed morphometrically to evaluate the amount of bone to implant contact (BIC), trabecular area density, and cortical area density. One-way analysis of variance test was used for statistical evaluation. p < .05 was considered to be significant.


RESULTS
Histological evaluation showed more trabecular reaction in the melatonin group. Morphometrical analysis showed a statistically significant increase in trabecular BIC in the melatonin group when compared with the control group (24.61% ± 2.87 vs 13.62% ± 1.44; p < .01). Cortical BIC was decreased in the melatonin group, without statistical significance (71.08 ± 3.63 vs 76.28 ± 2.57; p = 0.31). Trabecular area density was increased significantly in the melatonin group (8.68 ± 1.61 vs 4.02 ± 0.36; p < .05). Cortical area density was decreased significantly in the melatonin group (91.31 ± 1.6 vs 95.7 ± 0.5; p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitation of this animal study, local melatonin application at the time of implant placement might induce more trabecular bone at implant contact and higher trabecular area density.
Tresguerres
Isabel F
IF
Department of Oral Medicine and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Clemente
Celia
C
Blanco
Luis
L
Khraisat
Ameen
A
Tamimi
Faleh
F
Tresguerres
Jesús A F
JA
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000187:drug effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery
D015921:Dental Implants; D008550:Melatonin