Influence of different drilling preparation on cortical bone: A biomechanical, histological, and micro-CT study on sheep

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the extent of cortical bone remodeling between two different drilling protocols by means of histomorphometric, mu-CT, and biomechanical analyses. Material and methodsA total of 48 implants were inserted into the mandible of six sheep following two drilling protocols: Group A (Test, n=24), undersized preparation; Group B (Control, n=24), non-undersized preparation. The animals were euthanatized to obtain 5 and 10weeks of implantation time. Removal torque (RTQ) was measured on 12 implants of each group and the peri-implant bone was mu-CT scanned. Bone volume density (BV/TV) was calculated in pre-determined cylindrical volumes, up to 1.5mm from implant surface. Non-decalcified histology was prepared on the remaining 12 implants from each group, where total bone-to-implant contact (totBIC) and newly-formed BIC (newBIC) was measured. Bone Area Fraction Occupancy (BAFO) was determined in pre-determined areas up to 1.5mm from implant surface. Paired sample t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to investigate differences between the groups. ResultsGroup A presented significantly increased RTQ value at 5weeks, while no difference was observed at 10weeks. Group B presented increased BV/TV value at 5weeks. Both groups showed comparable values for totBIC at both time-points. However, Group A presented significantly lower newBIC at 5weeks. Higher BAFO was observed in Group B at 5weeks. ConclusionsImplants inserted into undersized sites has an increased biomechanical performance, but provoked major remodeling of the cortical bone during the early healing period compared to non-undersized preparations. After 10weeks, no difference was observed.