In vivo performance of a modified CSTi dental implant coating.

Cylindrical dental implants coated with cancellous structured titanium (CSTi) were studied in a dog model. CSTi-2-coated and hydroxyapatite-coated (HA) implants were placed in 8 mongrel dogs. The porosity of the CSTi-2 coating was 9% less than that of the previously studied CSTi-1, resulting in greatly improved mechanical strength and cosmetic appearance. A slightly lower level of bone ingrowth was observed for CSTi-2 than for CSTi-1. However, the in vivo attachment strength of the CSTi-2 coating was comparable both to CSTi-1 and to an HA-coated control after 8 weeks. Measured porosity is technique dependent; digital analysis of in vitro samples yielded higher porosity values than in vivo histology cross sections.

The effect of surface macrotexture on the mechanical and histologic characteristics of hydroxylapatite-coated dental implants.

The interface attachment strength and histology of HA-coated endosseous dental implants with surface texturing added to allow for mechanical interlocking of the implant to bone were evaluated in the canine mandibular model. Twenty-two adult mongrel dogs received eight implants (four per side) placed into healed extraction sites. Fifteen weeks post-implantation, the implants were evaluated mechanically by axial pull-out and torsional testing. Following testing, the specimens were evaluated quantitatively for histologic parameters of bone apposition, HA-coating thickness, and mode of interface failure. The addition of surface macrotexture (threads, grooves, and dimples) was not found to have a significant effect on axial pull-out strength compared with smooth implant controls. Similarly, mechanical testing in torsion failed to reveal any significant effect on implant-bone interface attachment due to surface macrotexture. Interface failure occurred primarily at the HA/substrate interface in all implant designs. Examination of HA-coating thickness revealed non-uniform coatings, particularly in the surface-textured designs. Although bone growth into the surface textures was observed in some cases, often only minimal or a thin osseous layer on the HA coating was observed. This factor most likely contributed to the lack of significant additional interface attachment strength in the textured designs. The reduction in areas of complete implant incorporation may also have exposed the HA coating to high interfacial loads and may be responsible for the greater HA coating break-up and presence of particles observed in the textured designs.

An in vivo analysis of an elliptical dental implant design.

The interface attachment strength and histology of an elliptical hydroxylapatite-coated (HA) endosseous dental implant were compared with those of an otherwise identical cylindrical dental implant. The implant designs were tested in two canine in vivo models: healed mandibular extraction sites and the femoral unicortical plug. The implants were evaluated 15 weeks post-implantation. The elliptical geometry of the dental implant was not found significantly to enhance axial pull-out strength or torsional implant-bone interface attachment in either in vivo model. The cylindrical implant absorbed more energy to failure in both the mandible and the femur; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Differences in the interface shear attachment strength between the two models (mandible and femur) were statistically significant when the maximum load to failure was normalized by the actual bone contact surface area. In all cases, femoral values were significantly greater. Examination of HA-coating thickness revealed uniform coatings on both implant types which were well maintained in vivo. Mechanical failure occurred primarily at the metal substrate-HA interface in each type of implant in both models. The amounts of bone apposition to both implants in both models were identical. Coating break-up and inflammatory response to the particulate debris were minimal.

Preserved and foreign cartilage interpositional materials for silastic finger joint implant arthroplasty.

Cartilage grafts were implanted as interpositional materials (IPMs) around the stems of silicone finger joint prostheses to protect their surfaces from abrasion with the local bone tissue. The knee joints of New Zealand White rabbits were implanted with finger joint prostheses and grafted with preserved auto- and allografts as well as fresh xenografts. Data were obtained after one month and compared to controls that received only the silicone prostheses. The grafting procedures did not cause any variations in joint function or differences in the amount of lipids absorbed by the prosthesis. A thin fibrous capsule formed about the control implants, whereas the capsules of the grafted legs were greater in thickness and area. Gross examination of the implant surfaces, weight analyses, and light microscopic studies of the number of wear particles found in the surrounding tissue capsules all indicated a reduction in prosthetic wear with grafting. The cartilage grafts were surrounded by inflammatory cells and were losing their proteoglycans. As expected, the xenografts exhibited the most degradation. No differences were noted between the preserved grafts. These results indicate that at one month, cartilage has provided protection for early implant motion. The biodegradable graft was being replaced by fibrous connective tissue. Long-term protection needs to be studied in additional experiments.