Osseointegration of zirconia implant in the tibia of pigs / 대한치과보철학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate osseointegration around zirconia implants which had machined or alumina sandblasted surface, and to compare the results with titanium implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on the tibia of 6 pigs. Three types of implants were investigated group T-titanium implant, group Z-machined zirconia implant, group ZS-alumina sandblasting treated zirconia implant. Zirconia implants were manufactured from yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Acucera Inc., Pocheon, Korea). A total of 36 implants were installed in pigs' tibias. After 1, 4 and 12 weeks of healing period, the periotest and the histomorphometric analysis were performed. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and significance was assessed by the Scheffe test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: In the measurement of surface roughness, highest Ra value was measured in group T with significant difference. No significant differences were found among groups regarding Periotest values. After 1 week, in comparison of bone to implant contact (BIC), group Z showed higher value with significant difference. In comparison of bone area (BA), group T and group Z showed higher value with significant difference than group ZS. After 4 weeks, in comparison of BIC, group T showed higher value with significant difference. Comparison of BA showed no significant difference among each implant. After 12 weeks, the highest mean BIC values were found in group T with significant difference. Group ZS showed higher BIC value with significant difference than group Z. In comparison of BA, group T and group ZS showed higher value with significant difference than group Z. CONCLUSION: Zirconia implant showed low levels of osseointegration in this experiment. Modification of surface structure should be taken into consideration in designing zirconia implants to improve the success rate.