Dental Implants Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dental Implants, including details on dentistry, surgery, tooth implants.

Cyclooxygenase-2 activity is essential for the osseointegration of dental implants.

Chikazu D, Tomizuka K, Ogasawara T, Saijo H, Koizumi T, Mori Y, Yonehara Y, Susami T, Takato T

Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Dentistry and Orthodontics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. chikazu-ora@umin.ac.jp <chikazu-ora@umin.ac.jp>

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 on bone response after the placement of implants in the femurs of mice. titanium implants 1.0mm in diameter were placed into the middle of the femurs of 9-week-old male COX-2 wild-type (COX-2(+/+)) and knockout (COX-2(-/-)) mice. For RNA analysis, the mice were killed 0, 1, 2, 4, 7 and 56 days after implantation. RNA was extracted from the bone surrounding the implants. For histological analysis, the mice were killed 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, and undecalcified sections were prepared. Contact microradiography was performed, and the sections were stained with 1% toluidine blue for histological examination. Histomorphometric measurements were obtained with a computer-based image analyser to quantify bone newly formed around the implant and the rate of implant-bone contact. Expression of COX-2 and osteocalcin mRNA was induced in bone surrounding implants in COX-2(+/+) mice, but not in COX-2(-/-) mice. In cortical bone, the implant surface was in direct contact with newly formed bone lamellae in COX-2(+/+) mice; new bone formation was minimal in COX-2(-/-) mice. These results suggest that COX-2 plays an essential role in osseointegration and provide evidence that COX-2-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may interfere with osseointegration clinically.

Published 14 May 2007 in Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 36(5): 441-6.
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