Early Effect of Implant-Supported Rehabilitation and Nocturnal Bruxism on Maximum Occlusal Force: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This clinical study evaluated the early effect of oral rehabilitation with dental implants and nocturnal bruxism on maximum occlusal force (MOF), before sensorimotor adaptation. A consecutive sample consisted of 127 patients divided into three groups according to their dental state: G1- implant-supported fixed complete denture (IFCD) opposing to a small fixed prosthesis or natural dentition; G2- IFCD opposing to a complete denture; and G3- small fixed prosthesis or natural dentition in both arches. Clinical data were collected after prosthesis installation: systemic and oral health conditions, MOF, self-reported bruxism, and bruxism severity (low, moderate, severe). Data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey-Krammer tests. Dental state and the interaction sex-bruxism had significant effect on MOF. G1 had higher MOF than G3, but G2 was not significantly different from G1 and G3. Men with bruxism had the highest MOF. The levels of bruxism severity did not have a significant effect on MOF. The results suggest that MOF varies as a function of dental state and the interaction sex-bruxism. However, presence and severity of bruxism alone does not affect MOF.

Influence of the local application of sodium alendronate gel on osseointegration of titanium implants.

The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of aspects of the osseointegration of titanium implants placed with and without the local application of a bisphosphonate agent, after 28 days in vivo. The study involved the placement of 50 commercially pure titanium implants in the middle third of the tibia of 10 rabbits, with the right tibia used as the control and the left as the test site. Sodium alendronate gel was applied locally in the test group and sterile saline solution in the control group. After euthanasia, 10 implants from each group were analyzed for maximum removal torque. The remainder of the sample was processed to obtain non-decalcified slides, approximately 30µm thick, for histomorphological and histomorphometric analyses, including bone-implant contact (%BIC). Data were analyzed at the 5% level of significance. The removal torque values of the test group were, on average, half those obtained in the control group. The test group showed a lower %BIC and notable changes in bone quality. It is concluded that the initial events in the osseointegration of titanium implants are not favoured by the local application of sodium alendronate gel in rabbits.