Biomechanical and Histomorphometric Evaluation of Osseointegration of Fusion‐Sputtered Zirconia Implants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate osseointegration of fusion-sputtered zirconia implants in comparison with sandblasted, acid-etched titanium implants in a biomechanical and histomorphometric study. Sixty zirconia implants were manufactured using CAD/CAM. Half received fusion sputtering surface treatment through spraying the green body implants with a jet of zirconia suspension. Standard Ti implants of the same shape and dimensions served as control. Thirty adult New Zealand white male rabbits were used in this study. Each animal received one fusion-sputtered and one Ti implant in one femur site and control zirconia in the other, for a healing period of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. At each healing time, a removal torque (RTQ) test was used to assess implant stability, while histological and histometric analyses were used to evaluate osseointegration. Fusion-sputtered zirconia implants demonstrated a statistically higher mean RTQ than control zirconia. When compared to Ti, however, although still higher, the differences were not significant. Histomorphometric evaluation revealed significantly greater bone-implant contact for fusion-sputtered zirconia implants compared to Ti after 4 and 8 weeks of healing time; however, at 12 weeks, the difference did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in the measured bone density between fusion-sputtered and Ti implants, although the difference was significant when compared to the control zirconia. Fusion-sputtered zirconia implants demonstrated a degree of osseointegration and interfacial biomechanical stability comparable to Ti implants.