Biocompatibility and osseointegration of nanostructured titanium dental implants in minipigs.

OBJECTIVES

It is well known that surface treatments of dental implants have a great impact on their rate of osseointegration. The aim of this study was to compare the biocompatibility and the bone-implant contact (BIC) of titanium dental implants with different surface treatments.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Test implants (Biotech Dental) had a nanostructured surface and control implants (Anthogyr) were grit-blasted with biphasic calcium phosphate and acid-etched surface. Both titanium implants were inserted in mandible and maxillary bones of 6 Yucatan minipigs for 4 and 12 weeks (n = 10 implants/group). Biocompatibility and osseointegration were evaluated by non-decalcified histology and back-scattered electron microscopy images.

RESULTS

The reading of histology sections by an antomo-pathologist indicated that the test implants were considered non-irritating to the surrounding tissues and thus biocompatible compared with control implants. The BIC values were higher for test than for control dental implants at both 4 and 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the new nanostructured titanium dental implant is considered biocompatible and showed a better osseointegration than the control implant at both 4 and 12 weeks.