Comparative study on the osseointegration of implants in dog mandibles according to the implant surface treatment

OBJECTIVES This study compared the impact of implant surface treatment on the stability and osseointegration of implants in dog mandibles. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six adult dogs received a total of 48 implants that were prepared using four different surface treatments; resorbable blast media (RBM), hydroxyapatite (HA), hydrothermal-treated HA, and sand blasting and acid etching (SLA). Implants were installed, and dogs were separated into 2- and 4-week groups. Implant stability was evaluated via Periotest M, Osstell Mentor, and removal torque analyzers. A histomorphometric analysis was also performed. RESULTS The stability evaluation showed that all groups generally had satisfactory values. The histomorphometric evaluation via a light microscope revealed that the HA surface implant group had the highest ratio of new bone formation on the entire fixture. The hydrothermal-treated HA surface implant group showed a high ratio of bone-to-implant contact in the upper half of the implant area. CONCLUSION The hydrothermal-treated HA implant improved the bone-to-implant contact ratio on the upper fixture, which increased the implant stability.