Peri-implant defect regeneration in the diabetic pig: A preclinical study

Objectives The study aims to establish a peri-implant dehiscence-type bone defect in a diabetic animal model of human bone repair and to quantify the influence of diabetes on peri-implant bone regeneration. Material and methods Experimental diabetes was induced in three domestic pigs by streptozotocin. Three animals served as healthy controls. After 12 months four standardized peri-implant dehiscence bone defects were surgically created in the ramus mandibulae. The animals were sacrificed after 90 days. Samples were histologically analyzed to quantify new bone height (NBH), bone-to-implant-contact (BIC), area of newly formed bone (NFB), bone-density (BD), and bone mineralization (BM) in the prepared defect (-D) and in a local control region (-L). Results After 90 days, diabetic animals revealed a significantly lower BIC ( p = 0.037) and BD ( p = 0.041) in the defect area (-D). NBH and BM-D differences within the groups were not significant ( p > 0.05). Significant more NFB was measured in the healthy control group ( p = 0.046). In the region of local bone BIC-L was significant less in the diabetic group ( p = 0.028). In the local control region BD-L and BM-L was lower in the diabetic group compared to the healthy control animals ( p > 0.05). Conclusion Histological evidence indicates impaired peri-implant defect regeneration in a diabetic animal model.