Bisphosphonate-coated Dental Implants

Dental implants (screws for fastening false teeth) have been coated with bisphosphonates (drugs that slow down removal of bone). Patients get one such screw and one without coating, by a surgeon who does not know which is which. The screws are compared by measuring how well fixed they are by a vibration measuring technique, and x-rays. The hypothesis is that the bisphosphonates will improve fixation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Need for at least 2 dental implants, which are to be inserted in bone of reasonably similar quality.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Systemic or immunologic disease, alcoholism, uncontrolled diabetes and smoking.
• Local exclusion criteria were: previous tumour, trauma and surgery.
• Also patients with Cawood & Howell class IV - VI maxilla-bone were excluded.