title: Acid and alkaline etching of sandblasted zirconia implants: a histomorphometric study in miniature pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zirconia (ZrO2 ) has received interest as a dental material; however, little information is available on the impact of surface modifications on the osseointegration of zirconia implants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of acid or alkaline etching of sandblasted ZrO2 implants on bone apposition in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cylindrical ZrO2 implants with two circumferential grooves were placed in the maxilla of 12 miniature pigs. Biopsies were harvested after 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of healing. Undecalcified toluidine blue-stained ground sections were produced. The bone-to-implant contact, the bone area, and the presence of multinucleated giant cells were determined by histomorphometry. An uncorrected explorative statistical analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acid etching but not alkaline etching of sandblasted ZrO2 implants caused more bone-to-implant contact than sandblasted ZrO2 implants. The bone area was unaffected by the surface modifications. Acid and alkaline etching both increased the formation of multinucleated giant cells at the implant surface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a scientific basis to further investigate the impact of acid etching of sandblasted ZrO2 implants on osseointegration and the role of multinucleated giant cells in this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saulacic
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erdösi
authors.forename: Dieter D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Bosshardt
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buser
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000468:Alkalies; D000818:Animals; D015921:Dental Implants; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D015921:Dental Implants; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide
keywords: dental implant; histology; histomorphometry; macrophages; multinucleated giant cells; osseointegration; zirconia