Efficacy of bone grafting materials in preserving the alveolar ridge in a canine model.

Preservation of the alveolar ridge after tooth extraction is an essential component for ideal implant positioning. Furthermore, preservation of bone around the implant after implant placement is an essential component for implant treatment. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of bone grafting materials in preserving the alveolar ridge after implant placement. Implants were placed in regenerated bone without grafting material or with beta-tricalcium phosphate, bovine bone substitute, or carbonate apatite transplantation. In all groups, the bone healed and the implants were successfully placed within the bone. No significant differences in insertion torque and implant stability quotient values were found. The amount of bone around the implant 5 weeks after implant placement was significantly reduced in the bovine bone substitute group; however, implants placed in regenerated bone achieved sufficient initial fixation and osseointegration.

Impact of Oral Intake of Glucosylceramide Extracted from Pineapple on Xerostomia: A Double-Blind Randomized Cross-Over Trial.

Background: The aim of this double-blind randomized cross-over trial was to evaluate the effect of oral intake of glucosylceramide extracted from pineapple on oral moisture and xerostomia symptoms. Methods: Sixteen participants who had xerostomia symptoms were randomly allocated into two groups. One group received, as test samples, tablets containing glucosylceramide extracted from pineapple (GCP) followed by placebo tablets. The other group received the test samples in the reverse order. Participants were instructed to take tablets of the first test sample once a day (after breakfast) for two consecutive weeks. Then, after a washout period of four weeks, participants were instructed to take the other test sample for two consecutive weeks. The oral moisture level of the lingual mucosa, xerostomia symptoms, and the number of fungiform papillae was evaluated. Results: The oral moisture significantly increased, and the visual analog scale (VAS) of "How is the dryness of your mouth?" significantly improved after GCP tablets intake and not after placebo tablets intake. The number of fungiform papillae was not significantly different following the intake of GCP tablets or placebo tablets. Conclusion: Results suggested that oral intake of GCP may improve the moisture level and xerostomia symptoms.

Effect of post-osseointegration loading magnitude on the dynamics of peri-implant bone: a finite element analysis and in vivo study.

PURPOSE: Much research has been invested in determining the effects of postoperative loading of implants and whether this loading contributes to implant failure, but the issue remains controversial. The present study aimed to elucidate whether cyclic lateral loading of an implant causes bone resorption or bone formation at various loading magnitudes, using a finite element method (FEM) and peri-implant morphologic and morphometric analyses. METHODS: An FEM model was created using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data of rabbit tibia. For the animal study, implants were inserted into rabbit tibia and, after osseointegration, were subjected to lateral cyclic loading of 20N, 40N or 60N. RESULTS: Bone-implant contact was significantly higher in both 40N and 60N groups. Bone-abutment contact (BAC) was extraordinarily observed in all experimental groups. Bone height was higher than the implant platform level at higher levels of loading (60N). Among the three experimental groups, those receiving 40N loading had the highest bone height and BAC. Larger BAC values were observed on the compressive side than the tensile side. CONCLUSIONS: Peri-implant bone formation was enhanced with increased loading, with bone formation predominantly on the compressive side. BAC was highest in the 40N group, implying existence of a loading threshold for peri-implant bone formation and resorption.

Single intra-articular injection of fluvastatin-PLGA microspheres reduces cartilage degradation in rabbits with experimental osteoarthritis.

Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway. The anti-inflammatory effect of statins has been reported in recent years. The present study investigated therapeutic effects of the local administration of statin in osteoarthritis (OA). We assessed clinically used statins and selected fluvastatin for further experimentation, as it showed potent anabolic and anti-catabolic effects on human OA chondrocytes. To achieve controlled intra-articular administration of statin, we developed an intra-articular injectable statin using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as a drug delivery system (DDS). The release profile of the statin was evaluated in vitro. Finally, therapeutic effects of fluvastatin-loaded PLGA microspheres (FLU-PLGA) were tested in a rabbit OA model. Rabbit knees were divided into four subgroups: group 1-A, PLGA-treated group; group 1-B, PLGA contralateral saline control group; group 2-A, FLU-PLGA-treated group; and group 2-B, FLU-PLGA contralateral saline control group. Histological analysis 5 weeks after intra-articular injection revealed that OARSI scores were lower in group 2-A. No significant differences in OARSI scores were observed between groups 1-A, 1-B, and 2-B. This study indicates that a single intra-articular injection of fluvastatin-loaded PLGA microspheres could be a novel therapeutic approach for treating patients with OA. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2465-2475, 2017.

Acceleration of hard and soft tissue healing in the oral cavity by a single transmucosal injection of fluvastatin-impregnated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres. An in vitro and rodent in vivo study.

Antihyperlipidemic drug statins reportedly promote both bone formation and soft tissue healing. We examined the effect of sustained-release, fluvastatin-impregnated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres on the promotion of bone and gingival healing at an extraction socket in vivo, and the effect of fluvastatin on epithelial cells and fibroblasts in vitro. The maxillary right first molar was extracted in rats, then one of the following was immediately injected, as a single dose, into the gingivobuccal fold: control (no administration), PLGA microspheres without a statin (active control), or PLGA microspheres containing 20 or 40 µg kg(-1) of fluvastatin. At days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 after injection, bone and soft tissue healing were histologically evaluated. Cell proliferation was measured under the effect of fluvastatin at dosages of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10, and 50 µM. Cell migration and morphology were observed at dosages of 0 and 0.1 µM. Following tooth extraction, the statin significantly enhanced bone volume and density, connective tissue volume, and epithelial wound healing. In the in vitro study, it promoted significant proliferation and migration of epithelial cells and fibroblasts. A single dose of topically administered fluvastatin-impregnated PLGA microspheres promoted bone and soft tissue healing at the extraction site.

Primary Stability of a Hybrid Implant Compared with Tapered and Cylindrical Implants in an Ex Vivo Model.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid implants are thought to offer good stability and bone-implant contact. PURPOSE: This study sought to evaluate the primary stability of a hybrid implant compared with tapered and cylindrical implants in an ex vivo model and compare undersized drilling with standard drilling in attaining primary stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hybrid (Straumann® Bone Level; BL), tapered (Straumann® Tapered Effect; TE), and cylindrical (Straumann® Standard Plus; SP) implants were inserted into 15 mm-thick porcine iliac crest blocks using standard (corticocancellous or cancellous bone) or undersized (cancellous bone only) drilling (n = 7). Stability was evaluated using maximum insertion torque (MIT), implant stability quotient (ISQ), and push-out tests. RESULTS: The mean MIT for BL and TE was significantly higher than that for SP (p < 0.05). With standard drilling in corticocancellous bone, the mean ISQ for TE was significantly higher than that for SP (p < .05). The mean MIT, ISQ, and push-out test scores for BL, TE, and SP with standard drilling in corticocancellous bone were significantly higher than those with undersized or standard drilling in cancellous bone (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In this ex vivo model, the hybrid implant demonstrated promising primary stability compared with the cylindrical implant. The improved stability of the hybrid implant was especially evident in cancellous bone. The influence of the cortical layer should be recognized when selecting implants for primary stability.

The effect of a single remote injection of statin-impregnated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres on osteogenesis around titanium implants in rat tibia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of newly developed injectable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres containing fluvastatin on osteogenesis around titanium implants in the rat tibia. After confirmation of the sustained-release profile of fluvastatin from the microspheres by an in vitro assay, the microspheres were administered to the back skin of the rats by a single transdermal injection. At 2 and 4 weeks after the implant surgery, the fluvastatin groups showed enhanced new bone formation around the titanium implants without any influence on the serum biochemistry. In addition, the fluvastatin groups showed increased three-point bending strengths of their femurs. The results of this study indicate that a single remote injection of PLGA/fluvastatin microspheres safely and successfully stimulated bone formation around titanium implants and increased the mechanical properties of bone.