Experimental study of bone growth around a dental implant after Surgibone grafting.

Histologic and histomorphometric results of bone growth around titanium alloy screw-type implants after Surgibone grafting in New Zealand white rabbits are presented. At 21 days, new bone was formed along the surface of the implant. At 84 days, newly formed bone replaced almost all of the trabecular bone of the graft and reached the shoulder level of the implant. There was a higher percentage of host bone area at 84 days than at any of the earlier experimental periods (P < .01). The average mineral apposition rates ranged from 1.82 to 2.35 microns/day in original bone and 2.55 to 2.80 microns/day in newly formed bone. The results suggest that Surgibone grafting in combination with dental implants can be used to increase the height of the recipient bone and therefore aid in the fixation of the implant in this animal model.