Xiufeng Zhu, Miao Wang, Huixia Zhou, Boya Xu, Xiaofeng Chang, Longlong He
Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Department of Implant Dentistry, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Clin Exp Dent Res. 2025 Oct;11(5):e70223. doi: 10.1002/cre2.70223.
This study is the first to integrate 3D finite element modeling, in vitro validation, and preclinical animal experiments to determine the efficacy of low-intensity thermal stimulation (LITS) in enhancing dental implant osseointegration. The study seeks to provide experimental evidence for applying thermal stimulation as a possible approach to enhance osseointegration.
A 3D finite element implant-femur model and in vitro implant-bone system were developed to simulate heat distribution. LITS conditions (50°C/5 s) were validated to avoid exceeding the osteoblast safety threshold (47°C). Eighteen rabbits received femoral implants divided into: control (no heating), T1 (single 50°C/5 s heating cycle), and T2 (three cycles). Outcomes included implant stability (IST), reverse torque, bone volume fraction (BV/TV), and histomorphometric osseointegration rate at 6 weeks.
Finite element and in vitro analyses confirmed 50°C/5 s as the optimal protocol, maintaining implant surface temperatures ≤ 46.3°C and complete thermal recovery within 1 min. T1 significantly increased in vivo rabbit model reverse torque (p < 0.05) and BV/TV (p < 0.05), while T2 showed no BV/TV improvement. Both T1 and T2 exhibited higher osseointegration rates (p < 0.05). Implant stability (IST) remained unchanged across groups (p > 0.05).
LITS at 50°C/5 s safely enhances early osseointegration in rabbits, increasing biomechanical anchorage and peri-implant bone formation. This study provides preliminary experimental evidence for the potential of thermal application in enhancing implant osseointegration.
本研究首次将三维有限元建模、体外验证和临床前动物实验相结合，以确定低强度热刺激（LITS）对增强牙种植体骨整合的效果。该研究旨在为将热刺激作为增强骨整合的一种可能方法提供实验证据。
建立了三维有限元种植体 - 股骨模型和体外种植体 - 骨系统来模拟热分布。验证了LITS条件（50°C/5秒）可避免超过成骨细胞安全阈值（47°C）。18只兔子接受股骨植入物，分为：对照组（不加热）、T1组（单次50°C/5秒加热周期）和T2组（三个周期）。观察指标包括植入物稳定性（IST）、反向扭矩、骨体积分数（BV/TV）以及6周时的组织形态计量学骨整合率。
有限元分析和体外分析证实50°C/5秒为最佳方案，可使种植体表面温度保持在≤46.3°C，并在1分钟内完全热恢复。T1组显著提高了体内兔模型的反向扭矩（p < 0.05）和BV/TV（p < 0.05），而T2组的BV/TV没有改善。T1组和T2组均表现出更高的骨整合率（p < 0.05）。各组间植入物稳定性（IST）保持不变（p > 0.05）。
50°C/5秒的LITS可安全增强兔早期骨整合，增加生物力学锚固和种植体周围骨形成。本研究为热应用增强种植体骨整合的潜力提供了初步实验证据。
