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Osseointegration Definition — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModerateProsthodonticsOsseointegration DefinitionNDEB AFK

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the term 'osseointegration' as applied to dental implants?

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Correct answer: C — Direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing implant at the light microscopic level

Osseointegration was defined by Brånemark (1985) as a direct structural and functional connection between ordered living bone and the surface of a load-bearing implant, observed at the light microscopic level. This means there is no intervening fibrous tissue between bone and implant — bone grows directly onto and integrates with the titanium oxide surface. At the electron microscopic level, a thin amorphous zone (20-40 nm) exists between bone and implant. Osseointegration typically takes 3-6 months and is influenced by implant surface, bone quality, surgical technique, and loading protocol.

Reference: Misch – Contemporary Implant Dentistry, 4th ed., 2020