Osseointegration of chemically modified sandblasted and acid-etched titanium implant surface in diabetic rats: a histological and scanning electron microscopy study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to assess the osseointegration of different dental implants surfaces in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, were used 56 male Wistar rats, average weight of 300-350 g. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin. The glucose levels and weight of rats were periodically evaluated. After the diabetes mellitus is confirmed, the sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) and SLActive endosseous dental implants (TAG dental implants, TAG Medical, Israel), made of titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V, 1 mm diameter and 3 mm in length were inserted in the distal metaphysis of the left femur. RESULTS: Diabetic rats have naturally lower number of bone cells and bone-implant contact (BIC%) than healthy rats when using the SLA implant, but when using SLActive implant, diabetic and healthy rats have the same numbers. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the SLActive surface resulted in positive effects in healthy and especially in diabetic animals, which demonstrate that could improve the osseointegration progress in humans with diabetes.