Ligature‐induced peri‐implantitis in mice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Peri-implantitis has a prevalence of 11-47%, involves destruction of peri-implant bone and may lead to implant loss. A detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of peri-implantitis is lacking. The objective of this study was to develop a murine model of experimental peri-implantitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Machined, smooth-surface, screw-shaped titanium implants were placed in the healed alveolar bone of the left maxillary molars of C57BL/6J male mice, 8 wk after tooth extraction. Peri-implantitis was induced by securing silk ligatures around the head of the implant fixtures. Implant survival and peri-implant bone levels were analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans and histology, 12 wk after ligature placement. RESULTS: Implant survival was 60% (six of 10) for implants with ligatures and 100% (eight of eight) for controls. Micro-CT revealed significantly greater bone loss around the implants that received ligatures and that survived, compared with controls. The radiographic findings were confirmed via histology and toluidine blue staining. CONCLUSION: This study describes a murine model of experimental peri-implantitis around screw-shaped titanium implants placed in the edentulous alveolar bone. This model should be a useful tool to dissect pathogenic mechanisms of peri-implantitis and evaluate potential treatment interventions.