EVALUATION OF BONE TURNOVER MARKERS AS INDICATORS FOR OSSEOINTEGRATION OF DENTAL IMPLANTS (A CLINICAL TRIAL)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dental implants are considered a highly reasonable method for the replacement of missing teeth and the success of this treatment modality is highly dependent on the bone quality; where the better the quality the more superior the implant osseo-integration. Bone turnover process also plays a fundamental role in implant osseo-integration and can give a prediction of the future implant stability and possible bone loss when its blood markers are assessed. OBJECTIVE: To assess the bone turnover marker (BTM) values and correlate their impact on the condition of the jaw bone in patients having dental implants and to evaluate the density and quality of bone around the implant radiographically in relation to normal and abnormal bone turnover markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out as a single arm clinical trial. Fifteen male patients who require single tooth replacement in the lower posterior region, whose age range was 30-40 years, underwent blood analysis of bone turnover markers; bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, using the technique of ELISA and CBCT examination preoperatively. The bone density was measured in the proposed area of implant placement using Ondemand software. Following implant placement bone density and marginal bone loss were radiographically evaluated 3 and 6 months postoperatively and the results were correlated to the patient’s bone turnover markers values. RESULTS: There was maximum primary stability and successful osseo-integration in all implants, with minor reduction in the bone density before and after the implant placement as well as minor marginal bone loss after 6 months of follow-up, but both were statistically non-significant. There was no significant correlation between marginal bone loss and abnormal bone turnover values. CONCLUSION: Bone turnover markers could not be used to evaluate the bone condition prior to referring to dental implant treatment thus they are not indicators of implant’s osseo-integration