ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the use and osseointegration of dental implants in combination with 3D‐printed hydroxyapatite (3DHA) blocks featuring gyroid porosity for large mandibular bone augmentation. Methods Mandibular lateral bone augmentation with gyroid‐3DHA blocks was performed bilaterally on four female Göttingen minipigs. After 8 or 12 weeks of healing, a dental implant was placed into each 3DHA block. Following an additional 12‐week healing period, the augmented sites (including 3DHA blocks and dental implants) were harvested for histological and histomorphometric analysis, assessing new bone formation, 3DHA integration, total bone gain, and bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC). Results Gyroid‐3DHA blocks were easily fixated with screws. Dental implants were placed through the 3DHA blocks with a standard drilling procedure, and good primary stability was achieved. 3DHA blocks demonstrated good osseointegration with 39.17% of new bone and a significant bone gain of 4.73 mm on average. Dental implants showed comparable BIC within the 3DHA and into the native bone (42.79% vs. 34.17%). No significant difference was found between the healing periods. Conclusion This is the first study to evaluate a 3D‐printed bone substitute in combination with a dental implant in an animal study. Gyroid‐3DHA blocks and dental implants demonstrated good osseointegration, and the bone augmentation was significant, making it a promising material for large and complex alveolar ridge augmentations.
Systermans et al. (2025) studied this question.