RESUMO
The aim of this restrospective histologic study was to evaluate the bone-to-implant contact of loaded implants retrieved from patients with and without osteoporosis. The evaluated material consisted of 22 threaded, cylindrical, loaded dental implants retrieved from 21 patients: 7 from 7 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (osteoporosis group) and the remaining 15 from 14 patients without history of osteoporosis or other metabolic diseases (control group). Histologic analysis revealed bone tissue in the threads of the retrieved implants, with variations in the percentage of bone-to-implant contact for the implants retrieved from both groups. The pristine bone was mostly mature bone and/or lamellar and compact, and numerous osteocytes were observed in the lacunae, although areas of woven bone could be distinguished. In some specimens, there were areas of newly formed bone exhibiting different degrees of maturation and remodeling. The mean bone-to-implant contact was 46.00+/-11.46% and 47.84+/-14.03% for the osteoporosis group and control group, respectively. The results of this histomorphometric study suggest that osteoporosis may not be a contra-indication for implant placement, at least after osseointegration has been established.