BMP stimulation of bone response adjacent to titanium implants in vivo

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) on the bond strength of titanium (Ti) implants at the bone-implant interface. Thirty-six Branemark screw implants (3.75 mm diameter by 15 mm long) were implanted for 3 and 12 weeks. At 3 weeks after implantation, the mean reverse torque value for implants stimulated with BMP delivered using an atelopeptide type-I collagen carrier (74.2 +/- 5.2 N cm) was observed to be statistically greater (P < 0.000016) than the mean reverse torque value for control Ti implants (32.8 +/- 1.1 N cm). Similarly, at 12 weeks after implantation, the mean reverse torque value for implants stimulated with BMP (89.2 +/- 2.7 N cm) was statistically greater (P < 0.0042) than the mean reverse torque value for control Ti implants (75.8 +/- 2.4 N cm). In addition, histomorphometric evaluations indicated more bone contact with the BMP stimulated implant surfaces compared to the controls after 3 weeks implantation. It was concluded from this study that the use of BMP-atelopeptide type-I collagen mixture is an effective means of obtaining greater bond strength at the bone-implant interface within a shorter time period than Ti implants without BMP.