Mehvish Saleem 1,a, Mayur Kaushik 1, Apeksha Ghai 1, Nitin Tomar 1, Soundarya Singh 1
Ligaplants: Biological attachments for Dental Implants
Backgrounds:
The gold standard for replacing missing teeth involves osseointegration. Conventional dental implants lack the periodontal ligament that the natural tooth possesses and this absence causes the implant to lack shock absorption and natural proprioception, leading to functional ankylosis. This limitation has prompted research into ligaplants – implants designed to integrate with tissue engineered PDL cells that mimic the natural biological tooth structure.
Aims:
The primary aim of this research is to investigate the concept, biological rationale and the current developments of ligaplants to determine their potential as a revolutionary alternative to conventional implants. This research specifically aims to develop an implant that restores physiological tooth function, including the capability of reacting to mechanical stress and enabling micro movements.
Methods:
The Ligaplant is developed through the application of tissue engineering. The research method in particular involves isolating human periodontal ligament stem cells from extracted teeth, then placing them into a culture. These pdl cells are then cultivated on the implant surface, often using a scaffold to induce the regeneration of PDL fibres and cementum-like tissues. This process requires precise monitoring of temperature and cultivating duration to prevent the development of non PDL type cells.
Results:
The review highlights significant progress, noting that preclinical studies and animal models demonstrate promising outcomes. The studies have shown the successful formation of functional PDL like tissues and new bone around implants. This PDL facilitates micro movements and shock absorption, making the Ligaplant firmly integrated without making direct contact with the bone.
Conclusion
Ligaplants represent an innovative direction in biomimetic dentistry. While the complexity of fabrication and high cost remain challenges, continuous interdisciplinary research could soon make Ligaplants a viable clinical alternative that restores the function and biological dynamics of natural teeth.
Research Summary Written By: Trina Ukaj, University of Manchester – BDS 5