Evaluation of a Novel Calcium Phosphate-Coated Titanium Porous Oxide Implant Surface: A Study in Rabbits

Purpose: To evaluate osseointegration of a novel calcium phosphate (CaP)-coated titanium porous oxide implant surface. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult male New Zealand White rabbits were used. Each animal received two titanium porous oxide-surfaced implants (benchmark control: TiUnite, Nobel Biocare) and two novel CaP-coated titanium porous oxide-surfaces implants; they were randomly allocated to contralateral tibia implant sites. The animals were sacrificed after 2 or 4 weeks, and tissues were evaluated histometrically. Results: Healing was generally uneventful. A removal torque analysis showed significantly higher mean (± SE) peak values for the control implants than for the test implants at 2 weeks (31.4 ± 2.5 Ncm versus 20.4 ± 1.8 Ncm) and 4 weeks (48.4 ± 5.5 Ncm versus 30.3 ± 3.9 Ncm). Light microscopy showed no significant differences in local bone density around control and test implants at 2 and 4 weeks (range, 85% to 91% within the thread area and 91% to 95% immediately outside the threads). At 2 weeks, bone-implant contact for control and test implants averaged 81.8% ± 2.8% and 75.7% ± 4.6%, respectively, and at 4 weeks the bone-implant contact values were 79.4% ± 2.8% and 73.5% ± 4.2%, respectively; these differences were not significant. Backscatter scanning electron microscopy also showed no significant differences in local bone density at control and test implants at 2 and 4 weeks (range, 55% to 72% within the thread area and 75% to 81% immediately outside the threads). At 2 weeks, bone-implant contact for control and test implants averaged 66.4% ± 2.9% and 61.5% ± 5.1%, respectively, and at 4 weeks mean values were 60.1% ± 4.2% and 53.3% ± 4.6% (differences not significant). Conclusions: The results suggest that the novel CaP-coated surface effectively supports osseointegration. Keywords: bone-implant contact, calcium phosphate, dental implants, osseointegration, titanium porous oxide