Histologic Comparison of Ceramic and Titanium Implants in Cats

This study compared the reparative processes around cylindrical glass ceramic-coated and pure titanium implants placed in feline femurs. Six weeks after implant placement, bone specimens with inserted implants were prepared for histologic examination including histomorphometric quantification of the relative implant surface areas that were in contact with bone. The glass-ceramic implants were surrounded by a 0.2- to 0.5-mm envelope of fibrous connective tissue. By contrast, the major part of the titanium implants (81% ± 5%) was in direct contact with living lamellar or woven bone. Thus, titanium and glass ceramic evoked different reparative processes when implanted in bone, and only the titanium implants appeared to become osseointegrated. Keywords: glass-ceramic implants, osseointegration, titanium implants