Crestal bone remodeling in loaded and unloaded implants and the microgap: a histologic study.

Purpose The aim of this study was to histologically evaluate the crestal bone response to loaded and unloaded implants in beagle dogs. Materials and Methods Sandblasted and acid-etched implants (Bone System, Milano, Italy) were placed in the mandible of six beagle dogs. The two premolars and the first molars had been extracted 3 months previously. Each dog received 12 implants in the mandible, and a total of 72 implants were used in this study. Three months after implantation, second-stage surgeries were performed for placement of abutments or healing screws. Three dogs were killed after 6 months, and three dogs were killed after 12 months. All 72 implants were re- trieved. Results No statistically significant differences were found in the amount of bone loss between test and control implants, both at 6 and 12 months. Statistically significant differences were found, in both groups, between the bone loss observed at 6 months and that found at 12 months. Conclusion Loading does not seem to be a relevant factor in the peri-implant bone resorption observed during the first year of function. Our results support previous findings that bone crest level changes could depend on the location of the microgap.