Histological and clinical comparisons of guided tissue regeneration on dehisced hydroxylapatite-coated and titanium endosseous implant surfaces: a pilot study.

Fifty-six endosseous cylindrical implants were placed in dog mandibles 12 weeks after the extraction of all mandibular premolars and first molars. Eight implants, four coated with 50 microns of hydroxylapatite (HA) and four grit-blasted and titanium-surfaced, were placed in each dog. Ideal implant placement sites were modified by creating standardized 3 x 5-mm facial dehiscence defects. Half the dehiscences were treated with a modified expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane; the remainder served as controls. After 8 weeks of healing, the animals were sacrificed and measurements made to determine the percentage of dehiscence repair. The HA-coated implants had a mean defect fill of 95.17% and the grit-blasted implants had a percent fill of 82.8% in the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) test group; the control implants demonstrated a mean fill of 55% and 39% in the HA-coated and grit-blasted implants, respectively. Significant differences (P less than .05) were noted between both test groups and the titanium control group, and between the HA test and HA control groups. Histologic evaluation showed significantly greater repair associated with HA-coated implants, as well as significant bone loss associated with clinically exposed membranes. It was concluded that within the limitations of this study, guided tissue regeneration is a viable option in treating defects associated with dental implants.