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2026 Vol.30, Issue 1

Original Article

Early Hard- and Soft-tissue Response to a Novel Long-cuff Implant with a Microgrooved Neck Surface: A Proof-of-concept Study
Donghyun Lee1†
,
Jungwon Lee23†
,
Young-Chang Ko4
,
Ki-Tae Koo5
,
Jordi Gargallo-Albiol6
,
Cristian Dinu7
,
Hyun-Wook An8
,
Ji-A Jung8
,
Kwang Bum Park910*
1Senior Researcher, Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), Daegu, Korea
2Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
3Clinical Associate Professor, One-Stop Specialty Center, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul, Korea
4Doctor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
5Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
6Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
7Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
8Researcher, MegaGen Implant CO. Ltd. R&D center, Daegu, Korea
9CEO, MegaGen Implant CO. Ltd. R&D center, Daegu, Korea
10Doctor, MIR Dental Hospital, Daegu, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors equally contributed to this work.
31 March 2026. pp. 1-20
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Abstract

Purpose: This proof‑of‑concept animal study evaluated the early hard- and soft-tissue responses to a novel long-cuff implant that incorporates a long, machined neck with a microgrooved surface.

Materials and Methods: Six beagle dogs received both conventional (control) and novel long-cuff (test) implants in the mandible following a 2‑month healing period after tooth extraction. Each animal was fitted with one control implant and five test implants, randomly distributed across three sites on each side of the mandible. Radiological and histological assessments were performed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Outcome measures included inflammatory response, bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), bone‑to‑implant contact (BIC), bone area (BA), soft‑tissue attachment, and collagen density.

Results: Both implant types exhibited comparable inflammatory patterns, peaking at 4 weeks and resolving by 6 weeks. BV/TV remained stable over time (control: 17.89 ± 5.06%; test: 20.18 ± 2.25% at 6 weeks). At 6 weeks, the microgroove surface demonstrated greater soft‑tissue attachment (85.98 ± 20.64%) and collagen density (25.12 ± 13.64%) than the machined surface (62.76 ± 28.03% and 14.14 ± 9.56%, respectively) and the control group (69.42 ± 13.15% and 19.70 ± 4.40%, respectively). BIC and BA followed similar trajectories in both groups; at 6 weeks, BIC reached 18.27 ± 0.34% in controls and 15.90 ± 14.08% in the test group.

Conclusion: The novel long-cuff implant elicited biological responses comparable to those of conventional implants while promoting enhanced soft‑tissue attachment and collagen deposition at the microgrooved region. This design may represent a viable alternative for atrophic ridges that would otherwise require bone augmentation.

Keywords
Animal study
Dental implant
Microgroove surface
Osseointegration
Soft tissue attachment
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Implantology
  • Publisher(Ko) :대한구강악안면임플란트학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of implantology and applied sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :대한구강악안면임플란트학회지
  • Volume : 30
  • No :1
  • Pages :1-20
  • Received Date : 2026-02-03
  • Revised Date : 2026-03-15
  • Accepted Date : 2026-03-23
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.32542/implantology.2026001
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