Bone healing at implants with different surface configurations: an experimental study in dogs

ObjectiveTo study osseointegration of implants with surface modifications by the use of fluoroboric acid and/or H2O2 installed in conventional sites or sites with circumferential marginal defects. Material and methodsFour implants with different surfaces were used. One basic surface (ZirTi((R))) was sandblasted with zirconium microspheres and acid etched additionally with hydrofluoric acid. A second surface was treated with fluoroboric acid instead of hydrofluoric acid. The remainder of the other two surfaces was additionally treated with H2O2. The edentulous mandibles of 6 foxhound dogs were used to randomly install 8.5-mm-long implants with the different surfaces and to study the histological healing after 1 and 3months. To study osteoconductivity, additional four recipient sites were prepared with the coronal region being widened so that a 4mm deep and 0.85mm wide marginal defect resulted after the placement of the four implants with different surfaces. No filler material or membranes were used, and a fully submerged healing was allowed for 3months. ResultsAt the conventional sites, new bone formation ranged between 68.5% and 74.9% after 1month. After 3months, bone-to-implant contact ranged from 72.6% at the ZirTi((R)) surface to 84.1% at the fluoroboric acid-treated implants, the difference being statistically significant. At the sites with marginal defects, bone formation ranged from 0.77mm at the surface treated with fluoroboric acid and H2O2, to 1.93mm at the surface treated with fluoroboric acid alone. ConclusionsFluoroboric acid treatment alone of titanium implant surfaces resulted in improved osseointegration and osteoconductivity after 3months.