In vivo electrical application on titanium implants stimulating bone formation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present in vivo study was to measure the bone implant contact area after electrical stimulation of dental implants.


METHODS
Ninety titanium dental implants (6 mm × 11.5 mm) with a smooth surface were placed in six male Beagle dogs and then the implant-bone interfaces was assessed by histological analyses after 7 and 15 d. The 12-mo-old dogs, with a weight of 15 kg, were randomly divided into two groups based on the duration of bone healing: 7 and 15 d. Also, implants were divided into three groups based on electrical stimulation: group A, 10 μA; group B, 20 μA; and group C, control group. The electrical current was applied by an electrical device coupled to the implant connection.


RESULTS
After 7 d of electrical stimulation, no statistical differences in bone-implant interface contact area were observed. However, a significantly higher bone-implant interface contact area was recorded for group B than for groups A and C (p < 0.01) after 15 d. No statistical difference was observed between groups A and C (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The electrical stimulation of dental implants can generate a larger area of bone-implant interface contact as a result of bone formation. Factors such as different electrical current intensity and duration should be studied in further work to clarify the potential of this method.
Center for Research on Dental Implants (CEPID), School of Dentistry (ODT), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
L M
LM
Bins-Ely
Center for Research on Dental Implants (CEPID), School of Dentistry (ODT), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
E B
EB
Cordero
Center for Research on Dental Implants (CEPID), School of Dentistry (ODT), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
J C M
JCM
Souza
Department of Oral Health Sciences and University Hospitals Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
W
W
Teughels
Center for Research on Dental Implants (CEPID), School of Dentistry (ODT), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
C A M
CAM
Benfatti
Center for Research on Dental Implants (CEPID), School of Dentistry (ODT), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
R S
RS
Magini
D000818:Animals; D000069343:Bone-Implant Interface; D015921:Dental Implants; D004285:Dogs; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D016348:Osseointegration; D010012:Osteogenesis; D014025:Titanium
D015921:Dental Implants; D014025:Titanium
bone formation; electrical stimulation; titanium implant