Healing of surgically created circumferential gap around Nano-coating surface dental implants in dogs

Abstract

The development and expanded use of dental implants has been remarkably increased. The implant stability and osseointegration are important factors in the success of treatment. Commercially pure titanium and its alloys are the most commonly used materials for endosseous dental implants. Hydroxyapatite (HA), one of the calcium phosphate, has been studied for biomedical applications since it has similarity in chemistry with inorganic components of human bone and its biocompatibility. But the use of HA coated dental implants remain still controversial, because some reports suggest that the HA coating may separate from the substructure, undergo dissolution in tissue fluids, and contribute to rapid breakdown around the implants. HA coating can be applied on metal implants by numerous methods. Of several coating methods, ion beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) has shown to promise. This study was to compare the healing response of various nano-coating surface implants (by IBAD) placed in surgically created circumferential gaps 12 weeks postplacement.

In six mongrel dogs, all mandible premolars and the first molar were extracted and after an 8-week healing period, four kinds of implants were placed. 2 mm circumferential coronal defects around the implants were performed surgically with a customized step drill. Groups were divided according to the fixture surfaces. The dogs were sacrificed following a 12 week healing period. Specimens were analyzed histologically and histomorphometrically.

During the healing period, healing was uneventful and implants were well maintained. The bone-to-implant contact (BIC) for experimental groups —calcium phosphate coating implants with or without heat treatment- were much higher than the control group. The defect fill were also higher in the experimental groups. In the control group, the coronal part showed minimal bone fill and osseointegration.

Within the scope of this study, calcium phosphate coating using IBAD may improve the bone response and the calcium phosphate coating may therefore be suitable in implant design with complex surface geometries