Aim of the study: The cause of a tooth loss may have an impact on the bone quality at this specific site affecting its Osseo integrative potential. The present study was designed to investigate bone quality and activity in implant fixation sites of congenitally missing teeth compared to others of healed extraction ones.
Methods: 10 core biopsies were collected during implant fixation procedure; 5 from sites of healed extraction and 5 from sites of congenitally missing un-grafted ridge. They were all from the same jaw with no predilection of anterior or posterior. The specimens were processed for histological, morphometric & gene expression of RANKL & vitamin D receptors (VDR).
Results: histological examination with hematoxylin and eosin showed different bone architecture between the two groups with apparent more intact appearance of the healed extraction group. histomorphometry revealed significant difference between the two groups in the total bone area percentage in favor of the healed extraction group. gene expression values of vitamin D receptors, as well as RANKL, recorded a significant decrease in the congenitally missing samples when compared to the healed extraction ones.
Conclusion: the results of the present work suggest the possible effect of cause of tooth loss on the quality of the residual bone which may affect the osteointegration potential in the area that reflects on implant survival rates. More detailed investigation is recommended to include: different areas, different gender as well as involving more growth factors.