The use of bioabsorbable implants as orthodontic anchorage in dogs

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of using a bioabsorbable implant as orthodontic anchorage. The implant under investigation in this study was a miniscrew, 2.0 mm X 8.0 mm, made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA; molecular weight: 200,000), a bioabsorbable bone-bonding material. The implants were placed in the mandibles of eight male beagle dogs. After implantation, traction was immediately applied to the third premolar (P3) using the implant as anchorage. After the completion of each study period (three and six months) following installation, tensile test, histological examination, and molecular weight measurement were performed. The results suggested that the bioabsorbable implant evaluated had favorable biocompatibility and strength, and that it showed promising potential for use in orthodontic treatment.