title: Zirconium oxide coating improves implant osseointegration in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Zirconium is widely used as material for prosthetic devices because of its good mechanical and chemical properties. When exposed to oxygen, zirconium becomes zirconium oxide (ZO, chemically ZrO(2)) which is biocompatible. ZO can be also prepared as a colloidal suspension and then used to coat surfaces. Zirconium oxide coating (ZOC) can potentially have specific biologic effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of ZOC on bone throughout an in vivo study using dental implants covered with ZOC and then inserted in rabbit tibia was tested in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histologic analysis demonstrated that (1) bone growth is more evident around ZOC fixtures than in controls and (2) a more mature bone is present in the peri-implant ZOC surface than in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZOC can enhance implant osseointegration.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Clinic, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sollazzo
authors.forename: Furio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pezzetti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarano
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
authors.forename: Carlo Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bignozzi
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massari
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carinci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D016348:Osseointegration; D010087:Oxides; D011817:Rabbits; D013977:Tibia; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D015921:Dental Implants; D010087:Oxides; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide