Sequential healing of the elevated sinus floor after applying autologous bone grafting: an experimental study in minipigs.

AIM: To describe the sequential healing after elevation of the maxillary sinus mucosa applying the lateral access technique with the use of autogenous bone grafting without membrane to occlude the osteotomy access. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immediately after the elevation of the maxillary sinus Schneiderian membrane, applying the lateral access technique in 10 minipigs, autologous bone was harvested from the lateral aspect of the mandibular molar region and ground into particles with a bone mill. The space under the Schneiderian membrane was filled with this graft. No membranes were placed onto the access osteotomy. The healing was evaluated after 15, 30, 90 and 180 days. Paraffin sections were prepared and analyzed histologically. RESULTS: After 15 days of healing, the elevated area was mainly filled with provisional matrix, newly formed bone and some remnants of bone chips, and appeared reduced in volume compared with that at the time of surgery. After 30 days of healing, further shrinkage of the height of the elevated space was found, with similar percentages of the different tissue components. After 90 and 180 days, the area underneath the Schneiderian membrane appeared reduced in volume and condensed toward the base of the sinus. The bone tissues appeared to be more mature, both for the mineralized and the non-mineralized portions, while connective tissue occupied 20% of the space, most likely related to the lack of the use of a membrane occluding the access at the time of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Suboptimal healing outcomes with respect to augmentation of the space under the sinus floor membrane were documented when autologous bone chips were used as a filler and no membrane was applied to cover the access.

Osseointegration at implants placed into delayed reimplanted roots: an experimental study in dogs.

AIM: To evaluate peri-implant bone repair of implants placed into the roots of delayed reimplanted teeth, in a process of ankylosis and external replacement resorption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The third and fourth mandibular premolars of four (4) beagle dogs were used as experimental sites. The study was divided into three stages: stage 1 - endodontic and extraction/reimplantation session, stage 2 - decrowning session and stage 3 - implant placement. Two groups were identified: (I) immediate implants, including implants installed in fresh extraction sockets of the distal roots, and (II) experimental implants, including implants installed into the retained ankylotic mesial roots. In each group, 16 implants were planned to be inserted, but only 9 immediate implants and 12 experimental implants were used for analyses. Implants were intended to heal in a submerged mode. After 4 months of healing, the animals were sacrificed and ground sections were obtained for histomorphometric evaluation. RESULTS: Eleven of the twelve implants in the experimental group were found successful regarding clinical and radiographic aspects. For immediate implants, a lower BIC% was found at the coronal portion (BIC% 1 = 42.2%) compared with the three most coronal threads portion (BIC% 2 = 55.1). Also, experimental implants presented a lower BIC% at the coronal portion (BIC% 1 = 36.9%) compared with the three most coronal threads portion (BIC% 2 = 45.3). CONCLUSION: Comparison between groups showed a higher degree of BIC% and mineralization in immediate group compared with experimental group. The differences, however, did not yield statistical significance.