Three filters intravital fluorescence microscopy evaluation of tissue loss progression induced by ligatures in experimental peri-implantitis in a dog model

Abstract

Objectives: Tissue breakdown was obtained by placing ligatures around dental implants on the same edentulous dog hemimandible. Evaluation of hard tissue loss progression was performed using intravital fluorochrome labeling, as an alternative to standard light microscopy, on thin sections of non-demineralized hybrid bone-implant specimens. Material and Methods: Intravital fluorochrome labeling was administered by intraperitoneal injection of oxytetracycline and alizarin red S. Sections were cut, stained and evaluated by light microscopy and under the epifluorescent microscope. Bone loss architecture was analyzed under three filters: UV, green and red. Results: Epifluorescence microscopy demonstrated continuous bone activity in the surrounding area of the implants during the healing period. LM confirmed the intense cellular activity in the hard tissues around the implants. Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, epifluorescence can be seen as a complementary approach to the LM “golden standard”, providing both reliable and sufficient information with regard to bone resorption/apposition kinetics.