Selected osteointegration markers in different timeframes after dental implantation: findings and prognostic value

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the osteointegration markers after dental implantation and evaluate their predictive value. The study was performed on 60 practically healthy persons who needed teeth rehabilitation using dental implants. The conical-shaped implants (CI) and hexagonal implants (HI) were used. The content of Osteopontin (OPN), Osteocalcin (OC), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Osteoprotegerin (OPG), and nitric oxide (NO) was determined in patients’ gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF), collected 1, 3, and 6 months after implantation. During the 3–6 months of observation level of OPN increased in patients with CIs (<50 years > 50 years) and HIs (<50 years) (CI: <50 years F = 36.457, p < 0.001; >50 years F = 30.104, p < 0.001; HI < 50 years F = 2.246, p < 0.001), ALP increased in patients with CIs (<50 years: F = 19.58, p < 0.001; >50 years: F = 12.01; p = 0.001) and HIs (<50 years) (F = 18.51, p < 0.001), OC increased in patients <50 years (CI: F = 33.72, p < 0.001; HI: F = 55.57, p < 0.001), but in patients >50 years - on the 3 days month (CI: F = 18.82, p < 0.001; HI: F = 26.26, p < 0.001), but sharply decreased at the end of sixth month. OPG increased during 1–3 months of the observation in patients <50 years (CI: F = 4.63, p = 0.037; HI: F = 2.8927, p = 0.046), but at the end of the sixth month returned to the initial level; NO content in PISF increased in patients with CI (>50 years) during 1–6 months of the observation (F = 27.657, p < 0.001). During the post-implantation period, age-related differences in osteointegration were observed. Patients <50 years old had relatively high levels of OPN, ALP, OC, and OPG in PISF, resulting in less alveolar bone destruction around dental implants and more intensive osteointegration. These indicators may be used as biological markers for monitoring implant healing. The process of osseointegration was more intense in CIs due to their comparatively high mechanical loading.