Dense apatite ceramic (DAC) implant systems: A preliminary report

Abstract

M uch effort has been directed to the development of an endosteal implant as a substitute for the natural tooth root.lm3 Screws, pins, and blades made of metal, aluminum oxide, or vitreous carbon have been used with a moderate degree of success.4.5 Titanium root implants’ coated with a degradable tricalcium phosphate have the same disadvantage as other implant materials. When the coating is replaced by bone, the alveolar bone will again be confronted with a foreign material. Bone-mechanical compatibility as regards design of the implant and bone-physiologic compatibility as regards implant material are of the utmost importance. A cylindrical design results in more favorable stress distribution, both in the alveolar bone and in the implant, than conical, blade, or natural tooth root configurations.’ Research has shown that dense apatite ceramic (DAC) is the material of choice in substitution for the lamina dura of the natural tooth.8 The DAC material is directly and chemically bonded to bone; it is physiologically compatible with bone and is not degraded when implanted in bone.9s’o Dense apatite implants have been used in patients as a support for the cortical plates after extraction of the teeth.” Evidently they do not prevent resorption of the cortical plates but preserve the bulk of the ridge by acting as space maintainers.” The results with these submerged implants warrant research with transmucosal superstructures. This article presents data on the preparation, properties, and use of the DAC implant system in patients. The DAC endosteal implant consists of a titanium core for strength and a surface of DAC for interfacing with alveolar bone.