Jun 10 2014
As reported in the internationally renowned scientific journal, Bone [in press for Aug. 2014], a research team from New York University has confirmed what scientific developers at Intra-Lock® International, Inc. have known for several years: the fractal, nano-rough OSSEAN® surface developed for their dental implants actually changes the cellular genetic expression – or the fate of stem cells – at the nano-level, which in turn induces faster healing of implants.
In other words, the OSSEAN surface plays a critical role in healing at the DNA level. It was shown to favorably enhance osteoblast formation (new bone) and accelerate the mineralization on this newly formed bone.i This is the very first time such mechanism is described in-vivo (in a living host).
According to Thierry M. Giorno, DDS, director of research and development, and CEO of Intra-Lock®, International, Inc., “We’ve suspected for many years that OSSEAN alters the genetic expression of stems cells, forcing them to differentiate into bone; we designed it with that intention. However, this report is very important because it gives us a third-party ‘why’ behind our unparalleled, accelerated healing outcomes.”
The Scientific “Why” for Accelerated Healing
Typically, when an implant is surgically placed, there is a period of cellular “confusion” and chaos around the implant, and usually a little bone resorbs before being formed again. The implant is then at risk from the moment it is inserted through the time when the bone is healed around it – a time period Giorno refers to as “the window of negative opportunity.”
However, the NYU researchers found that bone cells immediately start clustering around the OSSEAN implants and begin accelerated healing, with little confusion whatsoever.
This occurs primarily due to the biomimetic structure of the OSSEAN surface, designed and classified as nano-rough and fractalii. Mimicking nature at the nano-level, the OSSEAN surface repeats a similar structural pattern to that of natural bone over and over, essentially “tricking” the body into accepting the implant as a natural substance and igniting the healing process far sooner than would occur with an artificial substance, which is smooth at the nano-level and without natural-seeming pattern repetition.
Benefits to the Patient
Typically, with an implant of any sort, whether it’s a dental implant in your jaw or a titanium rod in your leg, several weeks will pass before the bone begins to grow around it. During this time lapse, known as the “catabolic phase,” there can be great risk and instability with the implant.
Naturally, compressing the healing time and accelerating the degree of osseointegration – the merging of implant and bone – are highly desirable outcomes, and implants with an OSSEAN can provide a faster healing process, which thereby provides for a higher potential for successful long-term results with the implant.
“If you’ve ever had dental implants, you can appreciate the outcomes the OSSEAN surface provides,” said Giorno. “The healing process has changed forever, and future patients with an OSSEAN surface implant can look forward to reduced complications, overall.”
Looking further into the future, Giorno said, “I believe the effects of OSSEAN can potentially revolutionize the implant industry beyond dentistry and into all types of orthopedics where patients must wait for their bodies to accept a foreign substance. With OSSEAN, the wait is over.”
For more information about OSSEAN® or to request a copy of the Bone journal article, please email [email protected] or call (561) 557-8282.
i. Paulo G. Coelho, Tadahiro Takayama, Daniel Yoo, Ryo Jimbo, Sanjay Karunagaran, Nick Tovar, Malvin N. Janal, Seiichi Yamano, Nanometer-scale features on micrometer-scale surface texturing: A bone histological, gene expression, and nanomechanical study. Bone, Issue 65, Aug. 2014.
ii. Dohan Ehrenfest DM, Del Corso M, Kang BS, Leclercq P, Mazor Z, Horowitz RA, Russe P, Oh HK, Zou DR, Shibli JA, Wang HL, Bernard JP, Sammartino G. Identification card and codification of the chemical and morphological characteristics of 62 dental implant surfaces. Part 4: Resorbable Blasting Media (RBM), Dual Acid-Etched (DAE), Subtractive Impregnated Micro/Nanotextured (SIMN) and related surfaces (Group 2B, other subtractive process). POSEIDO. 2014; 2(1):57-79.