Evaluation of hydroxylapatite-coated titanium dental implants in dogs

Abstract

The endosseous implant design and surgical technique of Branemark et al. have resulted in longterm success of prosthetic rehabilitations.’ When titanium implants are submerged in bone for three to four months before loaded, close proximity of bone to the implant surface develops. Although absence of an intervening fibrous tissue seam is observed,’ direct chemical bonding of bone to titanium has not been shown.* However, it has been shown that dense, nonresorbable. nonporous hydroxylapatite (HA) can bond directly to bone.3 This study compares the histologic response to a HAcoated titanium implant with that of two types of uncoated titanium endosseous dental implants in dogs.