Evaluation of Simvastatin Grafting Around Immediate Dental Implants in Dogs

Introduction:Simvastatin (Zocor; MSD), a cholesterol-lowering drug, is used systemically in treatment of osteoporosis due to its bone-forming potential. The present study was conducted to evaluate the regenerative potential of an optimized simvastatin formulation as a grafting material around immediate dental implants in experimental animals.Materials and Methods:The drug was formulated as granules in cellulosic polymeric matrix. Surgical extractions of left and right mandibular third premolars were performed in 10 dogs. The left side of the mandible was the study group, where Microdent (Implant Microdent System S.L-Comapedrosa, Barcelona, Spain) implants were immediately seated and simvastatin granules were packed. The right side constituted the control group where only implants were placed. Five dogs were killed at 1 month and 5 at 3 months. The implants were removed and specimens were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and trichrome stains.Results:Healing occurred in both groups, with better findings in simvastatin-filled defects, as evidenced by bone regeneration, with neovascularization.Conclusions:Simvastatin granules allowed for osteogenesis around immediate implants, resulting in their osseointegration.