title: Comparison of removal torques between laser-treated and SLA-treated implant surfaces in rabbit tibiae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare removal torques and surface topography between laser treated and sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) treated implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser-treated implants (experimental group) and SLA-treated implants (control group) 8 mm in length and 3.4 mm in diameter were inserted into both sides of the tibiae of 12 rabbits. Surface analysis was accomplished using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM; Hitachi S-4800; Japan) under ×25, ×150 and ×1,000 magnification. Surface components were analyzed using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Rabbits were sacrificed after a 6-week healing period. The removal torque was measured using the MGT-12 digital torque meter (Mark-10 Co., Copiague, NY, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the experimental group, the surface analysis showed uniform porous structures under ×25, ×150 and ×1,000 magnification. Pore sizes in the experimental group were 20-40 mm and consisted of numerous small pores, whereas pore sizes in the control group were 0.5-2.0 mm. EDS analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups. The mean removal torque in the laser-treated and the SLA-treated implant groups were 79.4 Ncm (SD = 20.4; range 34.6-104.3 Ncm) and 52.7 Ncm (SD = 17.2; range 18.7-73.8 Ncm), respectively. The removal torque in the laser-treated surface implant group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P=.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, removal torque values were significantly higher for laser-treated surface implants than for SLA-treated surface implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Kyung-Pook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Seok
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Kyung-Pook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Lin-Jie
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Kyung-Pook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Am
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Energy dispersive spectroscopy; Laser treatment; Removal torque; Sandblasted large-grit acid-etched; Scanning electron microscope