Evaluation of Efficacy of Alendronate versus Calcitonin on Implant Osseointegration in Osteoporotic Rabbits

Background Alendronate (ALO) is a second-generation bisphosphonate used widely in osteopenic individuals for increasing bone density. Calcitonin (CT) is approved for the treatment of osteoporosis and other diseases involving accelerated bone turnover. Successful implant osseointegration depend ,in part, on state of host bone and its healing capacity, accordingly,it is necessary to clarify which of these two drugs is superior in management of osteoporotic periimplant bone. Objective: to compare the effects of Alendronate versus Calcitonin on implant osseointegration in osteoporotic bone. Material and methods: Thirty female New Zealand White rabbits were used in this study. They were bilaterally ovarictomized (OVX) and fed on low Calcium diet (bran food) to establish osteoporosis model. Each animal received two implants in their tibia bilaterally. They were divided equally into 3 groups. Group I were considered as control (OVX) group. Group II received calcitonin (CT) I.M. and Group III received Alendronate (ALO) orally . At 12 weeks after implant insertion, the animals were scarified. Ossiointegration among the three groups were evaluated through histomorphometrical analysis, scanning elecronmicroscope (SEM),and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). Results Through histomorphometric analysis, greatest mean area percentage of peri-implant bone was shown in (ALO) group, followed by (CT) group,the lowest effect was recorded in the control OVX group. Difference was statistically significant (P<0.0001).SEM results showed significant highest implant osseointegration value (Lowest gap distance) in (ALO) group, followed by(C T) group , then the control OVX group ( P<0.001). BMD was decreased after OVX and then was increased after using each drug,this change was statistically significant. ALO group showed statistically significant higher mean BMD than (CT) group (P<0.001) with negative correlation between gap distance and BMD in both groups. Conclusions : In osteoporotic conditions, both Alendronate and Calcitonin could effectively enhance osseointegration. Alendronate induced more pronounced effect than Calcitonin making it better choice for better implant osseointegration. KEYWORDS; Alendronate . Calcitonin .Osseointegration . Osteoporosis * Associate Professor of Oral Medicine, Periodontology, and Oral Diagnosis, College of Oral and Dental Surgery, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), Egypt, ** Lecturer of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Oral and Dental Surgery, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), Egypt, (4220) Maha Galal and Abeer Kamal E.D.J. Vol. 59, No. 4