A 12-month evaluation of nitrite oxide metabolism around immediate and conventionally loaded dental implants.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: During bone remodeling, alignment of bone is affected by loading direction. Considerable amount of data also suggest nitric oxide (NO) to be involved in bone metabolism. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential changes in NO metabolism in relation to the loading style of dental implants by analyzing the nitrite content of peri-implant sulcus fluid. METHODS: Dental implants were placed in 12 patients who had first molar loss bilaterally in the mandibular area. One site of the patient determined as immediately loaded and the other side were conventionally loaded. Clinical parameters were recorded and peri-implant sulcus fluid samples were obtained. Peri-implant sulcus fluid nitrite levels were spectrophoto-metrically determined. Clinical measurements and nitrite analysis were repeated at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. RESULTS: In both groups, there was a reduction between baseline and 12 months in all clinical parameters, except probing depth. Although, steady decrease was noticed in total nitrite levels during the whole experimental period in immediately loaded implants, more fluctuations were observed in conventionally loaded ones. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this 12-month follow-up study support the association of NO in the bone metabolism around dental implants and further suggest the impact of different loading regimens on NO metabolism.