Abstract: The osseointegration rate of titanium dental implants is related to their composition and surface roughness. Rough-surfaced implants favor both bone anchoring and biomechanical stability. Osteoconductive calcium phosphate coatings promote bone healing and apposition, leading to the rapid biological fixation of implants. The different methods used for increasing surface roughness or applying osteoconductive coatings to titanium dental implants are reviewed. Surface treatments, such as titanium plasma-spraying, grit-blasting, acid-etching, anodization or calcium phosphate coatings, and their corresponding surface morphologies and properties are described. Most of these surfaces are commercially available and have proven clinical efficacy (>95% over 5 years). The precise role of surface chemistry and topography on the early events in dental implant osseointegration remain poorly understood. In addition, comparative clinical studies with different implant surfaces are rarely performed. The future of dental implantology should aim to develop surfaces with controlled and standardized topography or chemistry. This approach will be the only way to understand the interactions between proteins, cells and tissues, and implant surfaces. The local release of bone stimulating or resorptive drugs in the peri-implant region may also respond to difficult clinical situations with poor bone quality and quantity. These therapeutic strategies should ultimately enhance the osseointegration process of dental implants for their immediate loading and long-term success.

Abstract: The increased generation and up-regulated activity of bone resorbing cells (osteoclasts) play a part in the impairment of bone remodeling in many bone diseases. Numerous drugs (bisphosphonates, calcitonin, selective estrogen receptor modulators) have been proposed to inhibit this increased osteoclastic activity. In this report, we describe a pit resorption assay quantified by scanning electron microscopy coupled with image analysis. Total rabbit bone cells with large numbers of osteoclasts were cultured on dentin slices. The whole surface of the dentin slice was scanned and both the number of resorption pits and the total resorbed surface area were measured. Resorption pits appeared at 48 h and increased gradually up to 96 h. Despite the observation of a strong correlation between the total resorption area and the number of pits, we suggest that area measurement is the most relevant marker for osteoclastic activity. Osteotropic factors stimulating or inhibiting osteoclastic activity were used to test the variations in resorption activity as measured with our method. This reproducible and sensitive quantitative method is a valuable tool for screening for osteoclastic inhibitors and, more generally, for investigating bone modulators.

Abstract: One type of gem-bisphosphonate (Zoledronate) has been chemically associated onto calcium phosphate (CaP) compounds of various compositions. For that purpose, CaP powders of controlled granulometry have been suspended in aqueous Zoledronate solutions of variable concentrations. Using mainly (31)P NMR spectroscopy, two different association modes have been observed, according to the nature of the CaP support and/or the initial concentration of the Zoledronate solution. beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and mixtures of hydroxyapatite and beta-TCP (BCPs) appear to promote Zoledronate-containing crystals formation. On the other hand, at concentrations <0.05 mol l(-1) CDAs (calcium deficients apatites) seem to undergo chemisorption of the drug through a surface adsorption process, due to PO(3) for PO(4) exchange, that is well described by Freundlich equations. At concentrations >0.05 mol l(-1), crystalline needles of a Zoledronate complex form onto the CDAs surface. The ability of such materials to release Zoledronate, resulting in the inhibition of osteoclastic activity, was shown using a specific in vitro bone resorption model.

Abstract: Chronic periodontitis is a multi-factorial disease involving anaerobic bacteria and the generation of an inflammatory response, including the production of metalloproteinases, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and eicosanoids. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and taurine-N-monochloramine (TauCl) are the end-products of the neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) respiratory burst. They act synergistically to modulate the inflammatory response. In the extracellular environment, HOCl and TauCl may directly neutralize interleukin 6 (IL-6) and several metalloproteinases, while HOCl increases the capacity of alpha(2)-macroglobulin to bind Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, IL-2, and IL-6, and facilitates the release of various growth factors. TauCl inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators, prostaglandins, and nitric oxide. HOCl activates tyrosine kinase signaling cascades, generating an increase in the production of extracellular matrix components, growth factors, and inflammatory mediators. Thus, HOCl and TauCl appear to play a crucial role in the periodontal inflammatory process. Taken together, these findings may offer opportunities for the development of novel host-modulating therapies for the treatment of periodontitis.

Abstract: Osteoclastic cells from giant cell tumour of bone (GCT) of bone provide a rich source for investigation of cellular mechanisms leading to formation of multinucleated cells, the resorption process and involvement of hormones and cytokines in these events. In the present study we investigated the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on the resorbing potential of osteoclast of GCT origin using quantitative image-analysis of resorption lacunae in an in vitro dentine model. While VD3 unsignificantly increased the number of resorption pits and implicated surface after 7 days of GCT cell culturing, the stimulative effect of LIF was statistically significant. In cultures supplemented with LIF (5000 U/ml) the number of lacunae and resorption surface increased by 38% and 55%, respectively, when compared with control cultures. We suggest that both osteotropic agents increased osteoclastic activity, as the number of multinucleated cells was similar in control and experimental cultures. Seeding of GCT cells on biphasic calcium phosphate substratum revealed the relative inability of osteoclastic cells to resorb this synthetic material.

Abstract: Under in vitro conditions rat bone marrow stromal cells induced into osteogenic differentiation by beta-glycerophosphate, exogenous ascorbic acid and dexamethasone are able to produce a mineralized matrix. Here we describe adult rat long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC), deprived of these substances. Mineralization process in stromal adherent cells occurred after 1 month of incubation and was proved by means of X-ray electron microprobe. The high content of sulfur in the extracellular matrix surrounding the mineralized nodules suggests non-distrophic pathway of Ca/P deposition. During the first 2 weeks of incubation the extensive production of multinucleated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive and TRAP negative giant cells occurred into the suspension fraction of the cultures. Rat LTBMC may serve as a model for the investigation of differentiation of osteoblastic progenitors and their interactions with multinucleated TRAP positive cells.