Recombinant Human Transforming Growth Factor [beta]-1 and Its Effects on Osseointegration.

Recombinant Human Transforming Growth Factor [beta]-1 and Its Effects on Osseointegration.
May 2003.
Clokie, Cameron M. L. DDS, PhD, FRCD(C); Bell, Richard C. DMD, MSc, FRCD(C)
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 14(3):268-277
You can view the abstract online. A subscription is required to view the full text or it can be purchased online.
Abstract:
Dental implant failures are still a common occurrence, especially in areas of poor bone quality. The purpose of this study was to observe whether the application of a growth factor, recombinant human transforming growth factor [beta]-1 (rhTGF-[beta]1), would improve the healing of bone adjacent to titanium dental implants. Four adult male Yucatan minipigs had four titanium dental implants placed into the inferior border of each hemimandible. On the control side, the implants were placed in standard fashion. On the experimental side, rhTGF-[beta]1 within a carrier gel was placed into the recipient site before implant placement. After a 6-week healing period, two implants from each side were evaluated by pull-out testing and histomorphometric analysis. The mean pull-out force for experimental implants was 1,124.01 N and 818.12 N (P = 0.5015) for controls. The mean percentage of bone between adjacent threads on the implant surface was 49.74% for the experimental group and 36.50% for controls (P = 0.0783). The mean percentage of bone-implant surface contact was 41.86% for the experimental implant sites and 24.60% for the control implant sites (P = 0.0452). The application of rhTGF-[beta]1 to implant sites appears to increase the amount of bone healing adjacent to a titanium dental implants in minipig mandibles at the 6-week period. Further studies are required to quantify better the amount of growth factor required and to study its effects over a broader period of time to see whether these differences are maintained.