Pilot Testing and Histomorphometric Evaluation of a Novel Mini Implant System(n)

Abstract The design of a mini-implant is a key element affecting the implant's initial stability, ability to sustain load and achieve successful osseointegration. This study aims to present the findings of pilot testing of a novel mini-implant technology (‘n’). The novel mini-implant (‘n’) is made of titanium grade V, having a trapezoidal thread pattern and a transverse hole of 0.8 mm diameter. This novel mini-implant (‘n’) was inserted in a test group of 3 male New Zealand white rabbits. A control group of 3 male New Zealand white rabbits was inserted with a similar number of control mini-implants. One animal in the test group additionally received a bone-inducing graft (DFDBA GRAFT) in the transverse means. The animals were sacrificed after 42 days and bone tissues were fixed. The histomorphometric findings were evaluated using BIC, BAFO, and cortical bone thickness. There was no mortality among the studied animals. Mean BIC% and BAFO (%) were 7.88% (95% CI: 5.10% - 10.66%) and 10.33% (95% CI: 5.86%-14.81%) higher among test animals. The woven bone formation was found to be higher among the test group as compared to the control group at 1mm, 1 – 2mm, and 3 – 4mm distance from the implant site. Higher BIC and BAFO were observed in the animals that received the bone-inducing graft. This study proposes a novel design of mini-implant (‘n’) which is found to be safe in this pre-clinical trial and has the potential to achieve higher primary and secondary stability.