Osseointegration

Osseointegration (from Latin osseus 'bony' and integrare 'to make whole') is the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing artificial implant ('load-bearing' as defined by Albrektsson et al. in 1981). A more recent definition (by Schroeder et al.) defines osseointegration as 'functional ankylosis (bone adherence)', where new bone is laid down directly on the implant surface and the implant exhibits mechanical stability ( i.e., resistance to destabilization by mechanical agitation or shear forces). Osseointegration has enhanced the science of medical bone and joint replacement techniques as well as dental implants and improving prosthetics for amputees. Osseointegration (from Latin osseus 'bony' and integrare 'to make whole') is the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing artificial implant ('load-bearing' as defined by Albrektsson et al. in 1981). A more recent definition (by Schroeder et al.) defines osseointegration as 'functional ankylosis (bone adherence)', where new bone is laid down directly on the implant surface and the implant exhibits mechanical stability ( i.e., resistance to destabilization by mechanical agitation or shear forces). Osseointegration has enhanced the science of medical bone and joint replacement techniques as well as dental implants and improving prosthetics for amputees. Osseointegration is also defined as: 'the formation of a direct interface between an implant and bone, without intervening soft tissue'. Osseointegrated implant is a type of implant defined as 'an endosteal implant containing pores into which osteoblasts and supporting connective tissue can migrate'. Applied to oral implantology, this thus refers to bone grown right up to the implant surface without interposed soft tissue layer. No scar tissue, cartilage or ligament fibers are present between the bone and implant surface. The direct contact of bone and implant surface can be verified microscopically.