A comparison study of the osseointegration of zirconia and titanium dental implants. A biomechanical evaluation in the maxilla of pigs.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the osseointegration of microstructured zirconia implants in comparison with sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium implants in a biomechanical study.


METHODS
Zirconia implants (4.1 mm in diameter, 10 mm in length) were produced using a new low pressure injection molding technique. After that the implants were acid-etched with hydrofluoric acid. Standard Ti-SLA implants of the exact same shape served as controls. Six months after extraction of incisors 2 and 3, 16 adult pigs received a total of 64 implants in the maxillae. After 4, 8, and 12 weeks the animals were sacrificed, and 59 implants could be analyzed to removal torque (RTQ) testing.


RESULTS
The mean RTQ values for zirconia implants were 42.4 Ncm at 4 weeks, 69.6 Ncm at 8 weeks, and 69.3 Ncm at 12 weeks of healing, whereas RTQ values for the Ti-SLA implants were 42.1 Ncm, 75.0 Ncm, and 73.1 Ncm at corresponding time intervals. There is no statistical difference in RTQ values between Ti-SLA and zirconia implants at 8 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limits of the present study it was concluded that acid-etching of zirconia implants enhances bone apposition resulting in RTQ values which were equivalent to that of Ti-SLA.
Gahlert
Michael
M
m.gahlert@knihagahlert.de
Röhling
Stefan
S
Wieland
Marco
M
Eichhorn
Stefan
S
Küchenhoff
Helmut
H
Kniha
Heinz
H
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D008437:Maxilla; D016348:Osseointegration; D013499:Surface Properties; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014025:Titanium; D019415:Torque; D015040:Zirconium
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D015921:Dental Implants; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; C028541:zirconium oxide