Biology of implant osseointegration.

TLDR

Osseointegration is a direct structural and functional link between living bone and implant surface, defined by the absence of progressive relative movement and often indicated by direct bone contact, suggesting a lack of local or systemic biological response. The authors propose that osseointegration results from the absence of a negative tissue response rather than an advantageous biological reaction. This review evaluates basic science studies on osseointegration biology and discusses factors influencing osseous healing around implants.

Abstract

Osseointegration refers to a direct structural and functional connection between ordered, living bone and the surface of a load-carrying implant. Currently, an implant is considered as osseointegrated when there is no progressive relative movement between the implant and the bone with which it has direct contact. A direct bone contact as observed histologically may be indicative of the lack of a local or systemic biological response to that surface. It is therefore proposed that osseointegration is not the result of an advantageous biological tissue response but rather the lack of a negative tissue response. The rationale of the present review is to evaluate the basic science work performed on the concept of biology of osseointegration, and to discuss the specific factors as they may relate to osseous healing around an implant.