RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate the osseointegration of different dense ceramics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight New Zealand white male rabbits were divided into 4 groups by implant materials: Cerabone(R)-AW, CaO-SiO2- B2O3 glass ceramics (CS10B), CaO-SiO2- B2O3 glass (CS5B glass) and Cerabone(R)- A W + A l2O3 glass ceramics. We implanted the dense ceramics into the tibia of rabbits with external fixator and checked the radiographs every 4 weeks. The union rate, histology and SEM were evaluated 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The union rates were 85.7% (6 of 7) in Cerabone(R)-AW, 85.7% (6 of 7) in CS10B, 71.4% (5 of 7) in CS5B glass and 28.6% (2 of 7) in Cerabone(R)-AW+Al2O3 by simple radiographs. The union rates of Cerabone (R)-AW and CS10B were statistically higher than that of Cerabone(R)-AW+Al2O3 (p=0.031). Histologically, the Cerabone(R)-AW had fused with tibia without biodegradation, CS10B, CS5B glass had fused with tibia in some portion but resorbed in others. Cerabone(R)-AW+Al2O3 had not fused with bony tissue. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the osseointegration and insolubility of Cerabone(R)-AW. We also confirmed the osseointegration and partial solubility of CaO-SiO2-B2O3 glass ceramics. These findings suggest that Cerabone (R)-AW can be used as an insoluble artificial bone and CaO-SiO2-B2O3 glass ceramics as biodegradable bone replacement materials.