Immunohistochemical Observations of Bone Healing around Dental Titanium Implants

Background: Clinical success of titanium implants is considered to be due to osseointegration, which is introduced as a direct connection between living bone and the surface of the implant. Non-collagenous proteins are considered as an important indicator for calcification and bone formation but immunohistochemical studies of the bone tissue distribution around implants have been few. Studies have not focused on the NCPs distribution around implants.

Objectives: to investigate tissue distribution of the bone-specific markers osteocalcin, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and alkaline phosphate at the bone-titanium interface.

Methods: a well-established animal model, the rat calvaria was chosen as the experimental model to determine bone healing and osseointegration around titanium implants. Immunoperoxidase technique was used to investigate the tissue distribution of bone specific markers osteocalcin, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and alkaline phosphate at the bone-titanium interface and histological sections were examined using a light microscope.

Results: the immunohistochemical examination revealed that osteocalcin, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and alkaline phosphate staining were abundant but with various intensity in the bone-titanium interface. Osteoblasts were heavily stained whereas preosteoblasts were slightly stained.

Conclusion: Non-collagenous proteins have a potential influence in calcium and hydroxyapatite binding, and the bone tissue mineralization around titanium implants.