Innovative AI-assisted osteocyte lacunae and bone mineralization assessment in jawbone

To demonstrate that mechanical stimuli can affect (1) the morphology of osteocyte lacunae and, consequently, osteocyte activity and (2) the distribution of relative bone mineralization, which is linked to the efficiency of bone remodeling. The jawbone was examined under two conditions: edentulism and dental implantation, in which the peri-implant bone was subjected to substantial mechanical forces during chewing. The relationship between mechanical stimulation, bone mineralization distribution, and the morphology of osteocyte lacunae was investigated using synchrotron phase-contrast microtomography combined with artificial intelligence image segmentation techniques. The volume of osteocyte lacunae was significantly greater in the peri-implant group compared to the edentulous group. The smaller lacunae observed in the edentulous group appeared to lack osteocytes, suggesting that they may be dysfunctional. Edentulous samples exhibited a wide variation in aspect ratio and sphericity values, a pattern not observed in the peri-implant bone samples. The distribution of bone mineral density was significantly higher in the peri-implant group. The absence of osteocytes—the key regulators of bone remodeling—can disrupt the balance between bone resorption and formation, contributing to the accelerated bone loss commonly observed in edentulous patients. In contrast, mechanical loading near dental implants promotes more uniform lacunar morphology. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of avoiding prolonged unloading of dental sites. When immediate implant loading is not feasible, mechanical stimulation through innovative load-mimicking devices should be considered during the edentulous period to help preserve bone health.