Development of Oral and Extra-Oral Endosseous Craniofacial Implants by Using a Mesh Structure for Connective Tissue Attachment

Connective tissue attachment to a mesh structureincorporated on the surface of oral implantsand extra-oral endosseous craniofacial implants(EOECI) was investigated. Two types of implantswere prepared: TI and TI-Mesh. TI was composed ofan upper and a lower component, both comprisedof a titanium cylinder, which could be connectedusing a titanium screw. The composition of the TIMeshwas similar, but the lower cylinder had alateral groove that was covered with a titaniummesh. In animal experiments performed using ratcalvaria, the lower component was first implantedand was left submerged for 3 weeks, then theupper component was mounted percutaneously.After an additional 2 weeks, each implant and thesurrounding tissues were harvested and evaluated.Histological observations revealed collagen fibersoriginating from surrounding hypodermal tissuesanchored to the mesh structures of the TI-Meshwhereas no such collagen fibers were observedaround TI. Significantly greater values of theattachment strength, the thickness of the dermaltissue, the thickness of hypodermal tissue, and theattachment lengths were observed in TI-Mesh thanthose of TI. Thus connective tissue attachmentwith collagen fibers anchored to the mesh wasachieved by incorporating mesh structures intothe percutaneously placed implants.