ABSTRACT
With the object of providing a temporary artificial periodonal ligament-like membrane around the dental implant, 10 Branemark type implants were coated with commercially available chitosan(Fluka Co., Buchs, Switzerland) which has a molecular weight of 70,000 and 80% deacetylation degree. Once this bioactive hydrophillic polymer(chitosan) contacts with blood or wound fluids, it becomes swollen and penetrates into the adjacent cancellous bone. Thus the interface between implant and surrounding bone is completely filled with chitosan. This tight junction in early healing phase enhances primary stability. The chitosan coated dental implants were implanted into the fresh patella bones from porcine knees, since the thickness of cortical bone is relatively even and their cancellous structure is homogenous. To test the shock absorbing effect, 1mm delta-rogette strain gage was installed behind the implant. The results showed 1. the principal strain peak value directed to the impact of coated implant was 0.064 0.018(p<0.05) and that of uncoated implant was 0.095(0.032 p<0.05). 2. the peak time delay of coated implant was 0.056sec(0.011 p<0.05) and that of uncoated implant was 0.024sec(0.009 p<0.05). It can be reasoned from this results that the chitosan coating has a shock absorbing effect comparable with a temporary artificial periodontal ligament.