This study aimed to determine of osseointegration following dental implantation in the dog mandible using bone scintigraphy. Five mongrel dogs, weighing approximately 8.5 kg and averaging 1.8 years of age, without active periodontal disease were used....
This study aimed to determine of osseointegration following dental implantation in the dog mandible using bone scintigraphy. Five mongrel dogs, weighing approximately 8.5 kg and averaging 1.8 years of age, without active periodontal disease were used. During the entire study period, all dogs were fed a soft commercial diet and water ad libitum to minimize functional loading of the implant. Titanium alloy implant systems 10 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter were chosen for insertion. Twelve weeks prior to implantation, the second and third left mandibular premolars in each dog were extracted for the dental implant insertion. Before the dental implantation procedures and 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the insertions, clinical observation, radiography and bone scintigraphy were conducted. The scintigraphy was obtained using a large field of view gamma camera equipped with a paralled-hole, low-energy collimator about 3 hours after intravenous injection of Tc-99m-MDP (8 mCi/dog) to the dogs. There were not inflammation sign after insertion of dental implants on the mandible in dogs. Implants were slightly movable at the first and fourth weeks, and there was no mobility after 8 weeks. Twelve weeks after dental implantation, the bone uptake scintigraphy of peri-implant bone was similar to that of normal alveolar bone, indicating that peri-implant bone was completely regenerated by new bone. In conclusion, we recommend stable implant fixation with alveolar bone for the accurate and safe repair of teeth loot due to decacy, trauma or peridontal disease. Titanium alloy implants were optimal due to their biocompatibility.