Editorial: Dedicated to the Memory of Marshall R. Urist.

BACKGROUND:  Previous experimental studies have shown a higher degree of bone-implant contact for surface-enlarged implants compared with machined implants. Yet, there is insufficient evidence that such implants show higher stability and an increased survival rate. PURPOSE:  The purpose of this investigation was to study the integration and stability of grit-blasted implants with retention elements on the implant neck, with and without marginal bone defects, compared with machined implants without retention elements. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  After tooth extraction of the mandibular premolars in six dogs, two grit-blasted, partly microthreaded Astra Tech implants and one standard Brånemark implant were bilaterally placed in each dog. On one side, 3 yen 3 mm large buccal defects were created, to expose three to four implant threads. The contralateral side served as control, and no defects were made. The animals were sacrificed after 4 months of healing. Implant stability was measured using resonance frequency analysis at implant installation and after 4 months of healing. Histologic and histomorphometric evaluation was made after 4 months of healing. RESULTS:  Resonance frequency analysis indicated that all implants in the test and control groups were osseointegrated after 4 months, with a tendency toward higher implant stability for the Astra Tech implants. There was a statistically significant higher increase in resonance frequency for the Astra test implants compared with their corresponding controls. Histology and histomorphometry showed well-integrated implants with varying degrees of bone repair at the defect sites. The greater bone-implant contact for the Astra implants was statistically significant. No significant difference between the implants in amount of bone filling the threads was recorded. CONCLUSIONS:  The Astra Tech implants tested showed a higher degree of bone-implant contact and higher level of bone regenerated at defect sites compared with the Brånemark implants. Resonance frequency analysis demonstrated a significantly higher increase in the Astra test implants compared with their control groups than did the Brånemark test implants versus their controls.