Surface observation of thin hydroxyapatite-coated implants at 80 months after insertion

Effects of Long Durations of RF-Magnetron Sputtering Deposition of Hydroxyapatite on Titanium Dental Implants

Objectives  Dental implant is a revolution in dentistry; some shortages are still a focus of research. This study use long duration of radiofrequency (RF)–magnetron sputtering to coat titanium (Ti) implant with hydroxyapatite (HA) to obtain a uniform, strongly adhered in a few micrometers in thickness.

Materials and Methods  Two types of substrates, discs and root form cylinders were prepared using a grade 1 commercially pure (CP) Ti rod. A RF–magnetron sputtering device was used to coat specimens with HA. Magnetron sputtering was set at 150 W for 22 hours at 100°C under continuous argon gas flow and substrate rotation at 10 rpm. Coat properties were evaluated via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy, and Vickers hardness (VH). Student’s t -test was used.

Results  All FESEM images showed a homogeneous, continuous, and crack-free HA coat with a rough surface. EDX analysis revealed inclusion of HA particles within the substrate surface in a calcium (Ca)/phosphorus (P) ratio (16.58/11.31) close to that of HA. Elemental and EDX analyses showed Ca, Ti, P, and oxygen within Ti. The FESEM views at a cross-section of the substrate showed an average of 7 µm coat thickness. Moreover, these images revealed a dense, compact, and uniform continuous adhesion between the coat layer and the substrate. Roughness result indicated highly significant difference between uncoated Ti and HA coat (p-value < 0.05). A significant improvement in the VH value was observed when coat hardness was compared with the Ti substrate hardness (p-value < 0.05).

Conclusion  Prolonged magnetron sputtering successfully coat Ti dental implants with HA in micrometers thickness which is well adhered essentially in excellent osseointegration.

The Influence of Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Surface in the Early Stages of Osseointegration: A Multiparameter Animal Study in Low-Density Bone

Background and Objective

The success rates of dental implants in low-density bone have been reported as a challenge, especially for early or immediate loading in the maxilla posterior area. Nanoscale architecture affects the roughness, surface area, surface energy of the implant and can enhance osseointegration. This study aimed to evaluate the implant-surface topography and biomechanical, histomorphometric, and histological bone responses to a new nanostructured hydroxyapatite surface placed in the iliac crest of sheep.

Methods

Ten female sheep (2–4 years) received 30 implants (n=10/group): HAnano^® coated (Epikut Plus^®, S.I.N. Implant System, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil), SLActive (BLX^®, Straumann, Basel, Switzerland), and TiUnite (NobelActive^®, Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy evaluated the implant surface topography, the insertion torque value, and resonance frequency analysis evaluated the primary stability, bone-implant contact, and bone-area fraction occupancy were evaluated after 14 and 28 days after implant placement.

Results

The surface morphology was considerably comparable between the implant groups’; however, the TiUnite^® group presented a remarkable different surface. The SLActive^® and TiUnite^® groups presented an insertion torque average of 74 (±8.9) N/cm that was similar to that of HAnano^® 72 (±8.3) N/cm (p >0.05). The resonance frequency evaluated with Osstell^®/SmartPeg^® or Penguin^®/MulTipeg^® showed similar results when assessing implants from the same group. BIC and BAFO significantly increased (p<0.05) throughout the experimental periods to all groups, but BIC and BAFO values were similar among the implants at the same time point. After 4 weeks, bone-implant contact was higher than 80% of the total length analyzed. New bone occupies around 60% of analyzed area around the implants.

Conclusion

HAnano^® coated surface promoted comparable osseointegration as SLActive and TiUnite in the sheep model. The three tested surfaces showed comparable osseointegration at the early stages of low-density bone repair in the sheep model.

Titanium Alloys for Dental Implants: A Review

The topic of titanium alloys for dental implants has been reviewed. The basis of the review was a search using PubMed, with the large number of references identified being reduced to a manageable number by concentrating on more recent articles and reports of biocompatibility and of implant durability. Implants made mainly from titanium have been used for the fabrication of dental implants since around 1981. The main alloys are so-called commercially pure titanium (cpTi) and Ti-6Al-4V, both of which give clinical success rates of up to 99% at 10 years. Both alloys are biocompatible in contact with bone and the gingival tissues, and are capable of undergoing osseointegration. Investigations of novel titanium alloys developed for orthopaedics show that they offer few advantages as dental implants. The main findings of this review are that the alloys cpTi and Ti-6Al-4V are highly satisfactory materials, and that there is little scope for improvement as far as dentistry is concerned. The conclusion is that these materials will continue to be used for dental implants well into the foreseeable future.

Hydroxyapatite and Fluorapatite in Conservative Dentistry and Oral Implantology-A Review

Calcium phosphate, due to its similarity to the inorganic fraction of mineralized tissues, has played a key role in many areas of medicine, in particular, regenerative medicine and orthopedics. It has also found application in conservative dentistry and dental surgery, in particular, as components of toothpaste and mouth rinse, coatings of dental implants, cements, and bone substitute materials for the restoration of cavities in maxillofacial surgery. In dental applications, the most important role is played by hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite, i.e., calcium phosphates characterized by the highest chemical stability and very low solubility. This paper presents the role of both apatites in dentistry and a review of recent achievements in the field of the application of these materials.

Hydroxyapatite-coated implant: Clinical prognosis assessment via a retrospective follow-up study for the average of 3 years

PURPOSE

This research evaluated clinical outcomes of two types of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated implants: OT (Osstem TS III-HA, Osstem implant Co., Busan, Korea) and ZM (Zimmer TSV-HA, Zimmer dental, Carlsbad, USA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was conducted on 303 implants (89 of OT, 214 of ZM), which were placed from January 16, 2010 to December 20, 2012. The prognosis was evaluated in terms of success rates, survival rates, annual marginal bone loss, and implant stability quotients (ISQ). The samples were classified into immediate, early, conventional, and delayed groups according to the loading time.

RESULTS

Overall, there were no significant differences between OT and ZM in success rates, survival rates, and annual marginal bone loss, except for the result of secondary stability. OT showed 77.83 ± 8.23 ISQ, which was marginally higher than 76.09 ± 6.90 ISQ of ZM (P<.05). In terms of healing periods, only immediate loading showed statistically significant differences (P<.05). Differences between OT and ZM were observed in terms of two indices, the annual marginal bone loss (0.17 ± 0.58 mm/year < 0.45 ± 0.80 mm/year) and secondary stability (84.36 ± 3.80 ISQ > 82.48 ± 3.69 ISQ) (P<.05). OT and ZM did not have any statistically significant differences in early, conventional, and delayed loading (P>.05).

CONCLUSION

OT (97.75%) and ZM (98.50%) showed relatively good outcomes in terms of survival rates. In general, OT and ZM did not show statistically significant differences in most indices (P>.05), although OT performed marginally better than ZM in the immediate loading and 1-stage surgery (P<.05).

Adherent endotoxin on dental implant surfaces: a reappraisal

Osteoimmunology is the crosstalk between cells from the immune and skeletal systems, suggesting a role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the stimulation of osteoclast activity. Endotoxin or bacterial challenges to inflammatory cells are directly relevant to dental implant pathologies involving bone resorption, such as osseointegration failure and peri-implantitis. While the endotoxin amount on implant devices is regulated by standards, it is unknown whether commercially available dental implants elicit different levels of adherent-endotoxin stimulated cytokines. The objective of this work is to develop a model system and evaluate endotoxin-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes relevant to osteoclast activation on commercially available dental implants. Murine J774-A1 macrophages were cultured on Ti disks with different level of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contamination to define the time-course of the inflammatory response to endotoxin, as evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. The developed protocol was then used to measure adherent endotoxin on commercially available packaged and sterile dental implants in the "as-implanted" condition. Results show that tested dental implants induce variable expression of endotoxin-stimulated genes, sometimes above the level expected to promote bone resorption in vivo. Results are unaffected by the specific surface treatment; rather, they likely reflect care in cleaning and packaging protocols. In conclusion, expression of genes that enhance osteoclast activity through endotoxin stimulation of inflammatory cells is widely different on commercially available dental implants. A reappraisal of the clinical impact of adherent endotoxins on dental (and bone) implant devices is required in light of increasing knowledge on crosstalk between cells from the immune and skeletal systems.

Effect of loading time on marginal bone loss around hydroxyapatite-coated implants

Objectives

The objective of this study is compare the rate of marginal bone resorption around hydroxyapatite-coated implants given different loading times in order to evaluate their stability.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted retrospectively for one year, targeting 41 patients whose treatment areas were the posterior maxilla and the mandible. Osstem TS III HA (Osstem Implant Co., Busan, Korea) and Zimmer TSV-HA (Zimmer Dental, Carlsbad, CA, USA), which employ the new hydroxyapatite coating technique, were used. The patients were divided into two groups - immediate and delayed loading - and the bone level at the time of loading commencement and after one year of loading was measured using periapical radiography. Differences between the groups were evaluated using Mann-Whitney (α=0.05).

Results

For all patients as a single group, the survival rate of the implants was 100%, and the mean marginal bone loss was 0.26±0.59 mm. In comparison of the differences by loading, mean marginal bone loss of 0.32±0.69 mm was recorded for the immediate loading group whereas the delayed loading group had mean marginal bone loss of 0.16±0.42 mm. However, the difference was not significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion

Within the limited observation period of one year, predictable survival rates can be expected when using immediately loaded hydroxyapatite-coated implants.