Study of an experimental microthreaded scalloped implant design: proximal bone healing at different interimplant distances in a canine model.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of a new experimental microthreaded scalloped (MTS) implant design in comparison to a conventional flat-top (FT) implant by measuring the proximal bone loss at different interimplant distances in a canine model.


METHODS
MTS implants were placed in one side of the posterior mandible and conventional flat-top (FT) implants were placed in the other side of the mandible in 10 beagle dogs. In five dogs, four each of the MTS and FT implants were placed with an interimplant distance of 2 mm. In another five dogs, three each of the MTS and FT implants were placed at an interimplant distance of 5 mm. All 70 implants (35 MTS and 35 FT implants) were placed in a nonsubmerged (one-stage) manner. The animals were sacrificed 4 months after implant placement, and the crestal bone levels around the MTS and FT implants were measured and compared on radiographs and histologic sections.


RESULTS
The experimental MTS implants showed significantly less crestal bone loss (0.81 ± 0.34 mm) than the FT implants (1.60 ± 0.42 mm) on radiographs (P < .001). Histologic measurement also demonstrated that there was significantly less (P < .001) marginal bone loss around the MTS implants (0.74 ± 0.41 mm) than around the FT implants (1.53 ± 0.52 mm). There was no statistically significant difference in bone loss between the 2-mm and 5-mm interimplant distances for either MTS or FT implants (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The experimental MTS implant was more effective in preserving the proximal bone than the conventional FT external-hex implant with the same surface. In this canine model, placement of the implants at either a 2-mm and or a 5-mm interimplant distance did not result in significant differences in marginal bone loss for both MTS and FT implants. This experiment demonstrated a potential benefit of the microthread design on a scalloped implant.
Choi
Kyung-Soo
KS
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Jung Gu, Daegu, Korea.
Lozada
Jamie L
JL
Kan
Joseph Y K
JY
Lee
Sang-Han
SH
Kim
Chin-Soo
CS
Kwon
Tae-Geon
TG
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004285:Dogs; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D023421:Models, Animal; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D015921:Dental Implants