Alendronate may improve successful implantation of maxillary bone

May 1 2008

A new study has established that estrogen deficiency negatively affects implant osseointegration in rats' maxillary bone.

Results from the study also found that alendronate (ALD), an aminobisphosphonate, may improve the quality and quantity of bone available for a successful implant.

The study is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology.

Bisphosphonates, potent bone antiresportive agents, are known to be some of the most reliable and prevalent drugs in osteoporosis treatment. The efficacy of bisphosphonates has been demonstrated in osteoporosis as well as in various other metabolic bone disorders such as Paget's disease and hypercalcemia of malignancy. Bisphosphonates are synthetic compounds extensively used for the treatment of system bone loss due to estrogen depletion.

Bisphosphonates such as ALD, although controversial, are worthy of investigation for the enhancement of implant osseointegration, the structural and functional connection between living bone and an implant, in patients with low bone mass who are already taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. These patients may receive additional benefits and be acceptable candidates for dental implants without needing to change their medication regimen and possibly as a result of their medication regimen.

In the study, implants placed in rats with estrogen deficiency did not osseointegrate. The probability of losing the implants at 2 weeks was 50 percent, and at 4 weeks just 13 percent of the implant surface remained in contact with bone. Administration of ALD helped to improve the bone-implant contact to 85 percent of the initial value. None of the implants were lost when ALD was administered, and the quality of the bone density improved to 50 percent. Overall, osseointegration of implants was enhanced by ALD.

To read the entire study, Effect of Ovariectomy and Alendronate on Implant Osseointegration in Rat Maxillary Bone, click here:

Journal of Oral Implantology is the official bimonthly publication of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. To find out more about the Society, visit http://www.aaid-implant.org.