Dental Implant Fixation by Electrically Mediated Process I. Interfacial Strength

Abstract

In order to determine the effect of electrical stimulation on canine alveolar bone, porous PMMA dental implants with a solid core (on which a Pt-13% Rh electrode was wound) were implanted in the mesial socket of the canine mandibular fourth premolars bilaterally. The positive electrode was implanted into the distal socket. The power pack was placed over the masseteric fossa. The implants, wires and power packs were all implanted subcutaneously. Each animal had an experimental and control implant.

Mechanical push-out samples were prepared by sectioning a 2mm thick section of the mandible with the implant in the middle. The samples were tested immediately and the load-deflection curves were obtained.

Present results show that the electrically stimulated samples have shown a higher interfacial strength than the control after 2–6 weeks implantation. This indicates that the constant current (4–6μA) can affect the alveolar bone osteogenesis.