This picture shows a histological section of an integrated implant. The red part is the bone, the black item is the implant. Notice the tight adaptation of bone to the implant
Here we see an implant which is not very well integrated. The bone is not very well adapted to its surface. The white area would be occupied by connective tissue
The above image show a higher magnification of osseointegration. You can appreciate how tightly adapted the bone is to the implant surface
This image shows exactly the opposite. Instead of tight adaptation of bone there is a space present, which is normally filled with connective tissue
The key to successful Osseointegration of a dental implant is that there are no excessive forces on the implant after the placement, which might cause its position to shift. Micro movement of the implant during the integration phase will jeopardize successful integration.
Osseointegration of a dental implant is a dynamic and ongoing process, however typically we consider an implant in the upper jaw after 6 months and in the lower jaw after 3 months sufficiently integrated in order to accommodate our biting forces. Sometimes conditions allow us to place a restoration onto the implant immediately after placement. This can only be done, however, when the initial stability of the implant is favorable.
Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the process by which living bone attaches to the artificial surface or an implant by the formation of bony tissue without growth of fibrous tissue at the bone-implant interface. Osseointegration is also a highly dynamic process, which does not only address the formation of bone onto an implant surface after it has been placed, but it also addresses the remodeling or maintenance of bone during the life of the implant.
Unsuccessful integration, or worse yet delayed disintegration (a formerly integrated implant looses its integration) paints a different histological picture all together. Instead of direct bone-to-implant contact, there is now a connective tissue band interposed. This does not give a dental implant the same load-bearing qualities as and integrated implant.
