Dental Implants Osseointegration & Healing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Osseointegration was first scientifically described by which researcher?
- Carl Misch
- Per-Ingvar BrĂĄnemark (Correct answer)
- Andre Schroeder
- William Linkow
Correct answer: Per-Ingvar BrĂĄnemark
Professor Per-Ingvar BrĂĄnemark discovered osseointegration in the 1950s when titanium chambers could not be removed from rabbit bone, leading to modern implant dentistry.
Question 2: Osseointegration is best defined as:
- Fibrous tissue encapsulation of the implant
- Direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the implant surface without intervening connective tissue (Correct answer)
- Bone growth over the implant crown
- Calcium deposition on the implant surface only
Correct answer: Direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the implant surface without intervening connective tissue
True osseointegration requires direct bone-to-implant contact at the light microscope level without any fibrous tissue at the interface.
Question 3: The healing time for osseointegration in dense cortical bone (Type I) compared to softer bone (Type IV) is typically:
- Shorter in Type I due to denser bone
- Longer in Type I due to reduced vascularity (Correct answer)
- The same regardless of bone type
- Longer in Type IV due to faster bone metabolism
Correct answer: Longer in Type I due to reduced vascularity
Dense cortical bone (Type I) has lower vascularity and blood supply, requiring longer healing time (up to 6 months) compared to more vascular cancellous bone.
Question 4: Which cell type is primarily responsible for new bone apposition on the implant surface during osseointegration?
- Osteoclasts
- Fibroblasts
- Osteoblasts (Correct answer)
- Neutrophils
Correct answer: Osteoblasts
Osteoblasts are bone-forming cells that migrate to the implant surface and deposit osteoid matrix that eventually mineralizes into bone.
Question 5: Micro-movement threshold that compromises osseointegration is generally accepted to be:
- Less than 50 microns
- 100–150 microns
- Less than 150 microns (Correct answer)
- Greater than 300 microns
Correct answer: Less than 150 microns
Micro-movements exceeding 150 microns at the implant-bone interface disrupt healing and promote fibrous tissue encapsulation instead of osseointegration.
Question 6: Secondary stability (biological stability) in implant healing refers to:
- The initial mechanical grip of the implant
- Bone apposition and remodeling that increases stability over time (Correct answer)
- The stability provided by the final crown
- Stability measured immediately after surgery
Correct answer: Bone apposition and remodeling that increases stability over time
Secondary stability develops as osseointegration progresses — new bone formation increases the bone-to-implant contact area and overall implant firmness.
Dental Implants Osseointegration & Healing 1
Osseointegration was first scientifically described by which researcher?