Loaded hydroxylapatite-coated and grit-blasted titanium implants in dogs.

This study evaluated the response of canine mandibular bone to loaded hydroxylapatite-coated (HAC) and grit-blasted titanium (GT) endosseous dental implants. Four dogs were partially edentulated in the maxilla and mandible. Two implants supporting freestanding prostheses were placed in each quadrant. Following 1 and 10 months of loading, the implants were evaluated. Soft-tissue pocket depths were not statistically different between the HAC and GT implants. Crestal bone loss was not significantly different between the two implants. However, the HAC implants had a statistically significant greater amount of bone apposed to their axial and apical surfaces compared to the GT implants.