Our results demonstrate that zirconium oxide may be a suitable material for manufacturing implant abutments with a low colonization potential.

All biomaterials examined resulted in being biocompatible and seemed to improve new bone formation in maxillary sinus lift. No signs of inflammation were present. The data are very encouraging because of the high number of successfully treated patients and the good quality of bone found in the retrieved specimens.

After 2 months of healing, comparison of the BIC values showed a statistically significant greater mean BIC for test SEIs than for controls. The clinical implications of these results included shortening of the implant healing period and earlier loading protocols.

According to our knowledge, this is the first study presenting data on TEM of a porcine bone-derived biomaterial used in sinus augmentation procedures in humans. Our findings show that this is a biocompatible biomaterial that can be used for maxillary sinus augmentation procedures without interfering with the normal reparative bone processes.

The aim of the present study was a comparison of implants' responses to a machined surface and to a surface sandblasted with hydroxyapatite (HA) particles (resorbable blast material [RBM]). Threaded machined and RBM, grade 3, commercially pure, titanium, screw-shaped inplants were used in this study. Twenty-four New Zealand white mature male rabbits were used. The inplants were inserted into the articular femoral knee joint according to a previously described technique. Each rabbit received 2 inplants, 1 test (RBM) and 1 control (machined). A total of 48 implants (24 control and 24 test) were inserted. The rabbits were anesthetized with intramuscular injections of fluanisone (0.7 mg/ kg body weight) and diazepam (1.5 mg/kg b.wt.), and local anesthesia was given using 1 mL of 2% lidocaine/adrenalin solution. Two rabbits died in the postoperative course. Four animals were euthanatized with an overdose of intravenous pentobarbital after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks; 6 rabbits were euthanatized after 8 weeks. A total of 44 implants were retrieved. The specimens were processed with the Precise 1 Automated System to obtain thin ground sections. A total of 3 slides were obtained for each implant. The slides were stained with acid and basic fuchsin and toluidine blue. The slides were observed in normal transmitted light under a Leitz Laborlux microscope, and histomorphometric analysis was performed. With the machined implants, it was possible to observe the presence of bone trabeculae near the implant surface at low magnification. At higher magnification many actively secreting alkaline phosphatasepositive (ALP+) osteoblasts were observed. In many areas, a not yet mineralized matrix was present. After 4 to 8 weeks, mature bone appeared in direct contact with the implant surface, but in many areas a not yet mineralized osteoid matrix was interposed between the mineralized bone and implant surface. In the RBM implants, many ALP+ osteoblasts were present and in direct contact with the implant surface. In other areas of the implant perimeter it was possible to observe the formation of an osteoid matrix directly on the implant surface. Mature bone with few marrow spaces was present after 4 to 8 weeks. Beginning in the third week, a statistically significant difference (P < .001) was found in the bone-implant contact percentages in machined and RBM implants. It must be stressed that these results have been obtained in a passive, nonloaded situation.

No abstract

A microgap has been described at the level of the implant-abutment connection. This microgap can be colonized by bacteria, and this fact could have relevance on the remodeling of the peri-implant crestal bone and on the long-term health of the peri-implant tissues. The authors report on 272 implants with screw- or cement-retained abutments retrieved from humans for different causes during a 16-year period. In the implants with screw-retained abutments, a 60-microm microgap was present at the level of implant-abutment connection. In some areas the titanium had sheared off from the surface and from the internal threads. The contact between the threads of the implant and those of the abutment was limited to a few areas. Bacteria were often present in the microgaps between implant and abutment and in the internal portion of the implants. In implants with cement-retained abutments, a 40-microm microgap was found at the level of the implant-abutment connection. No mechanical damage was observed at the level of the implant or of the abutment. All the internal voids were always completely filled by the cement. No bacteria were observed in the internal portion of the implants or at the level of the microgap. The differences in the size of the microgap between the two groups were statistically significant (P < .05). In conclusion, in screw-retained abutments the microgap can be a critical factor for colonization of bacteria, whereas in cement-retained abutments all the internal spaces were filled by cement. In these retrieved implants, the size of the microgap was markedly variable and much larger than that observed in vitro.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewing cells with the ability to differentiate into various mesodermal-derived tissues. Recently, we have identified in adult human periodontal ligament (PDL) a population of stem cells (PDL-MSCs) with the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. The aim of the present work was to further characterize this population and the expression profile of its cells. To achieve our objective we have used flow cytometry, magnetic cell sorting, cytokine antibody array, and light and electron microscope immunostaining. Our results show that the PDL-MSCs contain a subpopulation of frizzled-9 (CD349) positive cells expressing a panel of key mesenchymal and embryonic markers including CD10, CD26, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD166, SSEA-1, and SSEA-4. They are additionally positive for nanog and Oct-4; two critical transcription factors directing self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, and they also express the cytokines EGF and IP-10. The presence of nanog, Oct-4, SSEA-1, and SSEA-4 suggests that PDL-MSCs are less differentiated than bone marrow-derived MSCs. Taken together, these data indicate the presence of immature MSCs in PDL and suggest that the frizzled-9/Wnt pathway plays an important role in regulating proliferation and differentiation of these cells.