Impact of surface contamination of implants with saliva during placement in augmented bone defects in sheep calvaria

Our aim was to try and find out whether contamination with saliva during insertion of dental implants affects osseointegration in bone that has been augmented with different grafts. Six bony defects were created in each of the calvaria of six sheep, and then augmented with three different materials (autogenous bone, bovine bone, and resorbable biphasic ceramic bone substitute) After five weeks of healing, three implants contaminated with saliva (contaminated group) and three not contaminated (uncontaminated group) were placed in the centre of the augmented areas. For histomorphometric analysis, bone implant contact, bone area fraction occupancy, bone and material area, and bony area were measured after a healing period of five weeks. There was a significant difference between the contaminated and uncontaminated groups (p = 0.036) for bone implant contact only in the augmented areas, but there were no significant differences in bone area fraction occupancy, bone and material area, and bony area. We conclude that contamination with saliva during placement of dental implants can significantly compromise bone implant contact in augmented areas, but had no significant effect on the formation of bone in areas more distant from the surface of the implant. We suggest that salivary contamination should be avoided during placement of dental implants in augmented areas.