Evaluation of effectiveness of concentrated growth factor on osseointegration

Osseointegration of dental implants is important for long-term success and stability. There is no standardization in terms of the time of osseointegration and the timing of prosthetic loading. This process varies between 0–6 months [1]. Various strategies are being explored to shorten this period. Changes in implant surface properties and design have increased primer stability and helped the peri-implant tissue remain healthy. These changes have aimed to increase bone-implant surface connectivity and accelerate healing. Another method of accelerating osseointegration is the modulation of healing after the placement of the implant [2]. This modulation, in turn, can be achieved by bioactive molecules that increase osteoblastic differentiation and accelerate bone healing around the implant [2].

Growth factors are bioactive proteins that control the wound healing process. The platelet-containing preparations derived from human blood contain many growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2), which also play a key role in bone healing [3–5]. These growth factors attract the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells to the wound site, thus facilitating angiogenesis, chemotaxis, and cell proliferation [2].

Various platelet concentrates such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), and concentrated growth factor (CGF) are used to reconstruct bone defects [6]. PRF has been shown to have very successful results in tissue engineering in many studies [7–9]. Furthermore, a study by Sohn et al. has shown the higher regeneration capacity and multipurpose use of CGF in 2009 [10].

This preparation’s potential is because it contains growth factor-containing fibrin network; it contains fibroblast, platelet, leukocyte, and endothelial cell for angiogenesis and tissue remodeling; and it provides matrix for cell migration [11]. Platelets, in particular, contain biologically active proteins at high concentrations and support healing, growth, and cell morphogenesis [12–14].

That the implant has sufficient stability after placement is important for providing the necessary bone formation around the implant and for the optimal distribution of functional forces at the implant-bone interface during healing [15–17].

It can be said that resonance frequency analysis (RFA) is a very important tool for tracking the osseointegration process [18, 19]. RFA is a technique that allows tracking the changes in stability not only during implant placement but also during healing and later periods [20].

Growth factor-containing products have been shown to accelerate bone healing and osseointegration [2, 4]. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the effect of CGF on implant stability. Based on the results obtained in the study, it will be possible to reduce the amount of time required for osseointegration.

This study was conducted in compliance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approval of the ethics committee required for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Karadeniz Technical University (2015/21). The procedures to be performed were explained in detail and patients signed the consent forms. The study was carried out on individuals who applied to Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to get dental implants for upper jaw tooth deficiencies. In terms of standardization, only patients with implants applied to maxillary anterior and premolar region were included in the study. Cylindrical implants were used in each patient. The diameter of the implant was 3.5 or 4.0 mm, and the length was 10 mm. In patients who underwent tooth extraction, implants were placed 6 months after extraction. Patients rehabilitated with a fixed prosthesis, such as a single crown or bridge, were included in the study. Patients included in the study were randomly assigned to two groups: study and control groups.

The implanted regions were evaluated preoperatively with panoramic radiography and computed tomography (CT) images. In the study group, the socket walls were laid with CGF membrane while the implant surfaces were washed with the thrombocyte-deprived part of the tube. No different procedure was done to the implants and socket in the control group.

CGF preparation

A standard, disposable, 10-ml non-anticoagulant tube and a matching centrifuge device (MEDIFUGE, Silfradentsrl, S. Sofia, Italy) were used. Intravenous blood samples from the patients were placed in centrifuge tubes without anticoagulants and accelerated for 30 s, centrifuged at 2700 rpm for 4 min, 2400 rpm for 4 min, 2700 rpm for 4 min, and 3000 rpm for 3 min, and decelerated for 36 s to stop. All of these acceleration and deceleration processes are adjusted automatically due to the centrifugal device’s feature. Three layers were observed in the tube: red blood cell layer at the bottom, platelet-deprived plasma layer (without cell) at the top, and fibrin gel with concentrated growth factor and platelet aggregation in the middle. First, the uppermost platelet-deprived fraction was removed with a sterile syringe. The layer in the form of a membrane containing the concentrated growth membrane was held with the aid of a hemostatic clamp, separated from the red blood cell layer by cutting with a pair of scissors and then pressed to form a membrane (Fig. 1).

Surgical procedure

All surgical procedures were performed under local anesthesia by the same surgeon. A full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap was removed by incision on the alveolar crest. Implant cavities were prepared according to the surgical protocol of the Bego Semados implant system (BEGO Implant Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen, Germany). The final osteotomy diameters were the same as the placed implants. In the study group, the implant cavity walls were laid with CGF membranes all around (Fig. 2). The implants in the study group were irrigated with CGF fluid on their surface and placed in the corresponding socket (Fig. 3). The implants representing the control group were placed in the corresponding socket without any additional procedure. The implant surgery was completed in one session by attaching gingival formers to the implants in both groups. Gingival formers were not covered with soft tissue and mucoperiosteal flaps were sutured with 3/0 silk suture material.

The patients were recommended to apply cold compresses after the surgery. Patients were prescribed antibiotic (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid combination 1000 mg 2 × 1), analgesic (arveles tablet, 25 mg 2 × 1), and antiseptic mouthwash (0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, 3 × 1) for 1 week. The patients were controlled at the 1st week, 4th week and 12th week.

At the implant placement, the average torque for study group was 31,700 ± 2,696 Ncm and for control group was 30,55 ± 2,163 Ncm; there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.098).

The mean ISQ values measured after the placement of the implants were 75.75 ± 5.552 for the control group and 78.00 ± 2.828 for the study group. There was no statistically significant difference between control and study groups in terms of initial ISQ values (p > 0.05).

The postoperative ISQ values were found to be 79.40 ± 2.604 for the study group and 73.50 ± 5.226 for the control group at 1st week, 78.60 ± 3.136 for the study group and 73.45 ± 5.680 for the control group at 4th week (Table 2). It was determined that the differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and the ISQ measurements at week 1 and week 4 were notably higher in the study group (Fig. 4).

	Control group	Study group
Immediate	75.75 ± 5.552	78.00 ± 2.828
1st week	73.50 ± 5.226	79.40 ± 2.604
4th week	73.45 ± 5.680	78.60 ± 3.136

Implant stability is one of the important parameters that assess the loading time and dental implant success. Investigators have recommended that implants with ISQ < 49 measured when placed should not be loaded during the 3-month healing period; implants with ISQ ≥ 54 may be loaded. It is emphasized that implants with low primer stabilization value should be waited to reach a stabilization value adequate for prosthetic loading and that they must be protected against mechanical trauma and infection during this time [21].

In some studies, there is a meaningful reduction in ISQ values measured sometime after the placement of implants [22–24]. Huwiler et al. [24] have indicated that this reduction occurs during 2nd–4th week period while Monov et al. [23] have stated that it occurs as early as 4 days after the operation. In this study also, a decrease in the 1st week ISQ values was observed in the control group. Investigators have suggested that this decrease in stability values and subsequent increase are due to remodeling occurring during bone healing [22–24]. In the implants in the study group, an increase or stability was observed. A statistically significant difference was found between the study and control groups in each period of analysis. This suggests that CGF administration affects the implant primer stability by accelerating the osseointegration process.

Growth factors indicate that they accelerate tissue healing when they function effectively. Studies in the literature have reported that thrombocytes secrete growth factors from α-granules and that these releasing growth factors promote collagen synthesis. Increased collagen synthesis is thought to play a role in increasing soft tissue resistance and in the initiation of callus formation in bone tissue [14, 25–27].

Thrombocytes (platelets) also coexist with other thrombocytes, allowing the fibrin network to remain stable [28]. Within this stable, fibrin clot formation are chemical attractants in surrounding cells such as cell adhesion proteins, thrombocytes, and plasma growth factor; some of these mitogens are related to direct osteogenic cell function [29].

Introduced in 1998 by Marx, PRP is used in oral and maxillofacial surgeries to speed up the recovery of grafts in bone-grafted areas [14, 26–30]. Although many studies have shown that platelet-rich plasma affects bone healing positively, the results of some other studies suggest otherwise [31, 32].

In recent years, the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was described by Choukroun as a second-generation platelet concentrate [33]. PRF is defined as leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin biomaterial. PRF is used to accelerate healing in maxillary sinus augmentation, socket healing after tooth extraction, filling of the cyst cavity, treatment of furcation defects in periodontology, and soft tissue injuries [34].

The positive effects of blood products on healing have also triggered the development of products in different concentrations. One of these products, the concentrated growth factor (CGF), was defined by Sacco in 2006 [35]. CGF also has its own centrifugal technique in a manner similar to PRF. A longer and denser fibrin matrix with higher growth factor content was obtained by the different centrifugation technique [35].

Regional CGF administration increases FGF-β or VEGF release, which plays an active role in angiogenesis, as well as enhancing neutrophil migration by performing integrin release. It has also been shown that CGF contains such growth factors and CD34-positive cells [35]. It has been reported that CD34-positive cells in the cells also provide angiogenesis, neovascularization, and vascular continuity [36, 37].

In an animal study, CGF, PRF, and PRP were placed separately in the defects formed in the rabbit skull in the study group; the defects were left empty in the control group. Histomorphometric analysis revealed statistically significant differences between control and study groups in the growth of new bone formation at 6 and 12 weeks. In the study group, the greatest bone formation was observed in the CGF-treated group but this difference was not statistically significant [38]. In a study by Takeda et al. performed on rats, it was observed that cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in the cell culture from the CGF-treated group was significantly higher than in the other groups [39].

In a study by Monov et al. using PRP around the implant, a higher stability value was obtained in the study group during the early recovery period (6 weeks) although difference between the groups was not statistically significant [23]. Kim et al. reported in a study that there was a statistically significant increase in bone-implant contact with PRP administration in the vicinity of the implant [40].

Based on all these results, it can be said that CGF and PRF accelerated the implant osseointegration process and affected the stabilization values positively. It has been reported that CGF contains more growth factors than other platelet preparations [35]. It was observed in our study that CGF has favorable effects on implant healing period. There is no publication on the effect of CGF on the stability of dental implants during healing period. For this reason, we investigated the effect of CGF on the stability of dental implants in our study.

Considering this data, it appears that application of CGF enhanced stability of implants and accelerated osseointegration in the early period. CGF has positive effects on the ISQ value at the first week and fourth week. Further laboratory studies are needed to demonstrate the positive effects of blood products on the osseointegration process at the histopathological level.