Abstract
Titanium dental implants are used routinely, with surgical procedure, to replace missing teeth. Even though they lead to satisfactory results, novel developments with implant materials can still improve implant treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of porous tantalum (Ta) dental implants for osseointegration, in comparison to classical titanium (Ti). Mesenchymal stem cells from the dental pulp (DPSC) were incubated on Ta, smooth titanium (STi), and rough titanium (RTi) to assess their adhesion, proliferation, osteodifferentiation, and mineralized matrix production. Cell proliferation was measured at 4 h, 24 h, 48 h with MTT test. Early osteogenic differentiation was followed after 4, 8, 12 days by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) quantification. Cells organization and matrix microstructure were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Collagen production and matrix mineralization were evaluated by immunostaining and histological staining. MTT test showed significantly higher proliferation of DPSC on Ta at 24 h and 48 h. However, APL quantification after 8 and 12 days was significantly lower for Ta, revealing a delayed differentiation, where cells were proliferating the more. After 3 weeks, collagen immunostaining showed an efficient production of collagen on all samples. However, Red Alizarin staining clearly revealed a higher calcification on Ta. The overall results tend to demonstrate that DPSC differentiation is delayed on Ta surface, due to a longer proliferation period until cells cover the 3D porous Ta structure. However, after 3 weeks, a more abundant mineralized matrix is produced on and inside Ta implants. Cell populations on porous Ta proliferate greater and faster, leading to the production of more calcium phosphate deposits than cells on roughened and smooth titanium surfaces, revealing a potential enhanced capacity for osseointegration.
Highlights
Oral diseases are widely prevalent around the world and all can lead to tooth loss
For cell proliferation from 4 h to 48 h, the MTT assays showed a higher dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) proliferation rate on Ta compared to both specimens of Ti alloys (Figure 1)
Implant surfaces evaluated during this research have already been assessed and compared in different conditions by others groups of researchers, who mostly considered Ta as a good alternative to Ti surfaces implants, because of its good mechanical properties, and because it has proven to be favorable for cell adhesion, proliferation, osteodifferentiation, and mineralization in vitro and in vivo [29,30]
Summary
Oral diseases are widely prevalent around the world and all can lead to tooth loss. Data from the World Health Organization reports on the impact of these afflictions: worldwide, nearly 100% of adults have dental caries, 15 to 20% have severe periodontal disease, and close to 30% of those over 65 years old are completely edentulous [1]. Complications with teeth loss are due to several etiologies, and are impactful at the oral level (such as reduction of masticatory efficiency, altered neuronal/physiological sensation, alveolar bone remodeling, changes on microflora composition, reduction of mechanical chewing function), in addition to causing esthetic changes that can affect patients’ psychological well-being. Dental implants are able to restore functionality in both partially and completely edentulous patients. Dental implants provide such a successful outcome and more than 1000 varieties are on the market. There are a variety of different designs, dimensions, and surfaces (i.e., topography, chemistry, and wettability) [2,3]
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