Impact of Antidepressants on Dental Implant Osseointegration: A Comparative Evaluation of Nanohydroxyapatite and Double Acid-Etching Surface Treatments

PURPOSE: To perform an in vivo assessment of the impact of two antidepressants with distinct mechanisms of action on the osseointegration of dental implants and their correlation with two different surface treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus specimens) received four titanium (Ti) implants: two exhibiting a double acid-etched (DAE) surface and two exhibiting a DAE surface coated in plasma-sprayed nanohydroxyapatite (NANO). These four implants were distributed to the right and left tibiae. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups (5 rats per group) as follows: group 1 (G1) = no medication (saline solution); group 2 (G2) = amitriptyline intake; and group 3 (G3) = sertraline intake. Then the rats received a daily oral dose of 5 kg or 0.1 mL of their respective drug for 14 days prior to surgery and for an additional 21 days thereafter until they were euthanized. Removal torque (RT), bone-to-implant contact (BIC), and bone area (BA) were evaluated. RESULTS: The findings indicated that both the RT and the BA percentage decreased in the groups that were administered antidepressants. The BIC percentage was similar among the groups when the NANO-surface implant was used. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the antidepressants studied were associated with a higher possibility of osseointegration failure. Implants featuring NANO surface treatment could be used as an alternative in these instances to mitigate the negative impact of antidepressant therapy on bone repair.