Peri-implant tissue response to TiO2 surface modified implants.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate peri-implant soft tissue attachment and alveolar bone height on nanoporous TiO(2) thin film on commercial titanium dental implants compared with unmodified standard implants.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

In six adult beagle dogs, the mandibular premolars P2-P4 were extracted bilaterally. Sol-gel-derived nanoporous TiO(2) thin film was produced on smooth coronal part of standard ITI Straumann implants (4.1 mm x 8.0 mm) by dip coating method. After 3 months healing period of the extraction sockets modified (n=24) and unmodified (n=11) control implants were placed bilaterally. The animals were killed after 8 weeks and the samples were retrieved and processed for histologic/histomorfometric and TEM/SEM evaluations.

RESULTS

Histological examination showed mild or absent inflammatory reaction in peri-implant connective tissues around the surface modified implants. Further, junctional epithelium (JE)/connective tissue (CT) appeared to be in immediate contact with the experimental implants. Of the experimental implants, 22% were judged to be detached from the implant surface while 45% of the untreated control implants were detached. Dense plaques of hemidesmosomes were found in TEM evaluation of the JE cell membrane facing the surface-treated implants. In the histomorfometric analysis, the distance between the implant margin and alveolar bone crest was significantly shorter in surface-treated implants than in the control implants (P<0.02).

CONCLUSION

Nanoporous sol-gel-derived TiO(2) thin film on ITI Straumann dental implants improved soft tissue attachment in vivo.