Comparative Evaluation of Peri-implant Soft and Hard Tissue with and without Application of Bisphosphonate on Implant Surface and Osteotomy Site – A Clinico-radiographic, Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Study

BACKGROUND: The requisites to long-term success of dental implant are good-quality bone and healthy gingiva. Long-term risk with regard to dental implant is crestal bone loss. The cause of this crestal bone loss is inflammation of surrounding soft tissue and bone. One of the techniques used to prevent crestal bone loss includes the use of biological mediators. Bisphosphonates are antiresorptive drugs that act on osteoclasts and maintain bone density and strength by inhibiting osteoclast activity. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 16 systemically healthy patients aged between 20 and 50 years desirous of replacing single missing posterior tooth with an adequate width and height of edentulous space included in the study. 8 patients were treated with application of bisphosphonate on implant surface and osteotomy site and 8 patients were treated only with implant therapy. RESULTS: Crestal bone level changes were observed both in the study and control group. At 12 months, bisphosphonate-treated group showed less amount of crestal bone loss than control group. CONCLUSION: Local application of bisphosphonate (sodium alendronate) application around the implant and osteotomy site shows reduction in the amount of crestal bone loss but it is not statistically significant when compared with control group.