Histologic evaluation of early human bone response to different implant surfaces.
BACKGROUND
Studies have demonstrated that roughened dental implant surfaces show firmer bone fixation and an increased percentage of bone-to-implant contact (BIC%) compared to commercially pure titanium-surface (machined) implants. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of implant-surface topography on human bone tissue after 2 months of unloaded healing.


METHODS
Fourteen subjects with a mean age of 46.87 +/- 9.45 years received two microimplants each (2.5 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length), one test (sandblasted acid-etched surface) and one control (machined surface), either in the mandible or in the maxilla. After a healing period of 2 months, the microimplants and surrounding tissues were removed with a trephine bur and prepared for histologic analysis.


RESULTS
All microimplants, except for one of the controls, were clinically stable after the healing period. Histometric evaluation indicated that the mean BIC% was 23.08% +/- 11.95% and 42.83% +/- 9.80% for machined and rough microimplant surfaces, respectively (P = 0.0005). The bone area within the threads was also higher for sandblasted-surface implants (P = 0.0005). The mean percentage of bone density did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.578).


CONCLUSIONS
Data from the present histological study suggest that the sandblasted acid-etched implant provides a better human bone tissue response than machined implants under unloaded conditions after a healing period of 2 months.
Grassi
Sauro
S
Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
Piattelli
Adriano
A
de Figueiredo
Luciene Cristina
LC
Feres
Magda
M
de Melo
Leandro
L
Iezzi
Giovanna
G
Alba
Rodolfo Candia
RC
Shibli
Jamil Awad
JA
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D020906:Air Abrasion, Dental; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000473:pathology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D015921:Dental Implants; D014025:Titanium