Zirconium oxide coating improves implant osseointegration in vivo.
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.
Sollazzo
Vincenzo
V
Orthopedic Clinic, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Pezzetti
Furio
F
Scarano
Antonio
A
Piattelli
Adriano
A
Bignozzi
Carlo Alberto
CA
Massari
Leo
L
Brunelli
Giorgio
G
Carinci
Francesco
F
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
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D015921:Dental Implants; D010087:Oxides; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide