Effects of electrical stimulation on healing of endo-osseous titanium implants in circumferential defect

Shim, Jae Chang; Chung, Hyun Ju; Kim, Young Jun; Kim, Ok Su

Abstract

Several experimental studies showed that the application of small amounts of electric current to bone stimulated osteogenesis at the site of the cathode and suggested that electrical currents promote osseointegration around dental implants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of direct microcurrent to endosseous titanium implants placed in bone defects. The right and left 2nd, 3rd and 4th mandibular premolars in ten mongrel dogs (15Kg of weight) were extracted. One monthe later, Ti-machined screw type implants(3.8 mm diameter x 8.5 mm length, AVANA(R), Ostem) were placed in surgically created circumferential defect area(width 5mm, depth 4mm). The implants were divided into three groups according to the treatment modalities: Control group- implants without electrical stimulation; Experimental group I- implants with allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting; and Experimental group IIimplants allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting and electric stimulation. The animals were sacrificed in the 4th and 8th week after implant placement and un-decalcified specimens were prepared for histological and histometrical evaluation of bone-implant contact ratio (BIC) and bone formation area ratio (BFA) in defect area. Some specimens at 8 weeks after implantation were used for removal torque testing. Histologically, there was connective tissue infiltration in the coronal part of defect area in control and the experimental group I, whereas direct bone contact was found in the experimental group II without connective tissue invasion. Average BIC ratios at 4 weeks of healing were 60.1% in the experimental group II, 47.4% in the experimental group I and 42.7% in the control. Average BIC ratios at 8 weeks after implantation were 67.6% in the experimental group II, 55.9% in the experimental group I and 54.6% in the control. The average BFA ratio was 84.0% in the experimental group II, 71.8% in the experimental group I and 58.8% in the control at 4 weeks, and the BFA ratios were 89.6% in the experimental group II, 81.4% in the experimental group I and 70.5% in the control at 8 weeks after implantation. The experimental group II showed also significantly greater BIC and BFA ratios compared to the control and the experimental group I (p<0.05). The removal torque values at 8 weeks after implantation were 56 Ncm in the experimental group II, 49 Ncm in the experimental group I and 43 Ncm in the control. There was a statistically significant difference among 3 groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that electrical stimulation improve and accelerate bone healing around endosseous titanium implants in bone defect.