Comparison of peri-implant bone formation around injection-molded and machined surface zirconia implants in rabbit tibiae

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare osseointegration and surface characteristics of zirconia implants made by the powder injection molding (PIM) technique and made by the conventional milling procedure in rabbit tibiae. Surface characteristics of 2 types of implant were evaluated. Sixteeen rabbits received 2 types of external hex implants with similar geometry, machined zirconia implants and PIM zirconia implants, in the tibiae. Removal torque tests and histomorphometric analyses were performed. The roughness of PIM zirconia implants was higher than that of machined zirconia implants. The PIM zirconia implants exhibited significantly higher bone-implant contact and removal torque values than the machined zirconia implants (P < 0.001). The osseointegration of the PIM zirconia implant is promising, and PIM, using the roughened mold etching technique, can produce substantially rough surfaces on zirconia implants.

Osseointegration of zirconia and titanium implants in a rabbit tibiae model evaluated by microtomography, histomorphometry and fluorochrome labeling analyses

“…Nevertheless, even with these advantages, the authors have reported some clinical drawbacks, such as sensitivity to Ti, electrical conductivity, corrosive properties, accumulation of metal ions and esthetic problems as a result of their dark‐grayish coloring, which have led researchers and clinicians to explore alternatives . Therefore, zirconia (ZrO 2 ) implants containing tetragonal polycrystalline yttria (Y 2 O 3 ) (Y‐TZP) have been proposed as an alternative to Ti because of its esthetic benefits, superior mechanical properties to other ceramic biomaterials and high biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo . Taken together, the available data indicate that zirconia could be a suitable substitute for Ti, but few studies support its clinical use .…”

“…Notably, the significant hardness of zirconia implants makes the process of surface roughening very difficult and, in some cases, may compromise strength . Although Y‐TZP has genuine potential to become an effective implant material, it should be continuously tested to consolidate its true advantages and disadvantages in vivo …”

“…[8][9][10] Therefore, zirconia (ZrO 2 ) implants containing tetragonal polycrystalline yttria (Y 2 O 3 ) (Y-TZP) have been proposed as an alternative to Ti because of its esthetic benefits, superior mechanical properties to other ceramic biomaterials 11 and high biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. [12][13][14] Taken together, the available data indicate that zirconia could be a suitable substitute for Ti, 15 but few studies support its clinical use. 16 On the other hand, some animal studies have reported better bone-toimplant contact (BIC) with Ti implants than with Y-TZP implants.…”

“…19 Although Y-TZP has genuine potential to become an effective implant material, it should be continuously tested to consolidate its true advantages and disadvantages in vivo. [13][14][15] Recently, to improve the understanding of bone structure, new methods have been used to reveal details about the connection between implants and bone. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) has become a powerful tool in dental research and is promising for qualitative and quantitative analyses of implant osseointegration.…”

Zirconia compared to titanium dental implants in preclinical studies—A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…,Chang, Oka, Nakamura and Gu (1996),Chung, Kim, Shon and Park (2013),Han et al (2016),Hayashi, Inadome, Tsumura, Mashima and Sugioka (1993),Hayashi, Matsuguchi, Uenoyama and Sugioka (1992),Kim et al (2015),Mai et al (2012),Ratiu, Cavalu, Miclaus, Rus and Lazarescu …”