Simvastatin gel may enhance osseointegration of Dental Implants, Study Finds
A groundbreaking study revealed that 1.2% simvastatin gel positively affects dental implant osseointegration. The results, published in The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, observed increased osteoblastic activity about four weeks after implant placement due to faster osseointegration at an early stage.
Dental implants are widely accepted treatment options for fully or partially edentulous patients. Implants undergo osseointegration, which integrates them with the natural bone. Osseointegration is essential for the success of the implants. Recent literature shows that simvastatin, a cholesterol-reducing drug, has been recently used to enhance osseointegration of dental implants. It is found to accelerate bone regeneration in bone defects. Hence, researchers used bone scintigraphy to estimate the effect of simvastatin gel in the osseointegration of dental implants.
A randomized controlled trial was carried out on about 20 participants with missing mandibular first molars and D2-type bone. The participants were assigned equally to two groups. Group A received 1.2% simvastatin, and Group B received placebo gels during implant placement. The participants were subjected to bone scintigraphy to determine the osteoblastic activity at baseline, 30 days, and 90 days after implant placement.
Findings:
- There was a significant increase in osteoblastic activity between baseline, day 30, and day 90 (P < .05) in group A.
- Group B showed a significant increase in osteoblastic activity only between baseline and day 30 and between baseline and day 90 (P < .05).
- No difference was observed between days 30 and 90 (P > .05), with a higher mean of 79.20% ± 18.255% on day 30.
- Groups A and B showed a significant difference in bivariate analysis performed at different periods on day 30.
Thus, the study concluded that 1.2% of simvastatin gel is efficient in osseointegration of implants. The researchers attributed this to enhanced osteoblastic activity, which hastened the osseointegration of implants.
Further reading: Maheshwaran KS, Banu R F, Kumar V A, Mohamed K. Comparative Evaluation of Simvastatin Gel in Enhancing Periimplant Osteoblastic Activity During the Osseointegration Phase Using Bone Scintigraphy: A Prospective Case-Control Double-Blinded Study. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2024;39(5):707-712. doi:10.11607/jomi.10741
