Bone-to-Implant Contact
Also written as: BIC — Bone-to-Implant Contact
A histomorphometric measure, expressed as a percentage, of the length of direct bone–implant interface relative to the total implant surface length within bone, used to quantify osseointegration.
Full Definition
Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) is a gold-standard histomorphometric parameter used in preclinical and some clinical research to assess the degree of osseointegration achieved by a dental implant. It is calculated as the percentage of the implant surface in direct contact with mineralised bone, typically evaluated on ground sections of retrieved implants. A higher BIC percentage indicates more extensive direct bone apposition. BIC values vary considerably based on implant surface treatment, bone quality, healing time, and loading conditions. Editors should ensure the abbreviation BIC is defined on first use and that percentage values are reported with their corresponding healing timepoints.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate: 'bone-to-implant contact'. Expand to 'BIC' only after first use definition. Report values as a percentage with the healing timepoint specified.
In Context
- "Histomorphometric analysis revealed a mean bone-to-implant contact (BIC) of 68.4% ± 5.2% at eight weeks post-placement." — Animal histology study
- "BIC is the definitive measure of osseointegration but requires implant retrieval, limiting its application in living patients." — Review article