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Comparative Study
. 2008 Dec 11:4:30.
doi: 10.1186/1746-160X-4-30.

Osseointegration of zirconia implants compared with titanium: an in vivo study

Rita Depprich  1 , Holger Zipprich, Michelle Ommerborn, Christian Naujoks, Hans-Peter Wiesmann, Sirichai Kiattavorncharoen, Hans-Christoph Lauer, Ulrich Meyer, Norbert R Kübler, Jörg Handschel
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Osseointegration of zirconia implants compared with titanium: an in vivo study

Rita Depprich et al. Head Face Med. .

Abstract

Background: Titanium and titanium alloys are widely used for fabrication of dental implants. Since the material composition and the surface topography of a biomaterial play a fundamental role in osseointegration, various chemical and physical surface modifications have been developed to improve osseous healing. Zirconia-based implants were introduced into dental implantology as an alternative to titanium implants. Zirconia seems to be a suitable implant material because of its tooth-like colour, its mechanical properties and its biocompatibility. As the osseointegration of zirconia implants has not been extensively investigated, the aim of this study was to compare the osseous healing of zirconia implants with titanium implants which have a roughened surface but otherwise similar implant geometries.

Methods: Forty-eight zirconia and titanium implants were introduced into the tibia of 12 minipigs. After 1, 4 or 12 weeks, animals were sacrificed and specimens containing the implants were examined in terms of histological and ultrastructural techniques.

Results: Histological results showed direct bone contact on the zirconia and titanium surfaces. Bone implant contact as measured by histomorphometry was slightly better on titanium than on zirconia surfaces. However, a statistically significant difference between the two groups was not observed.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated that zirconia implants with modified surfaces result in an osseointegration which is comparable with that of titanium implants.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Radiograph showing titanium (left) and zirconia (right) implants inserted into the tibia of minipigs after 12 weeks of healing time.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Micrograph showing matrix-rich regeneration tissue (orange) between the implant and bone (green). Zirconia implant (left), titanium implant (right) (Masson-Trichrome-Goldner, 100-fold).
Figure 3
Figure 3
At 4 weeks after implantation, osteoid and woven bone were formed both on zirconia (left) and titanium implant surfaces (right) (toluidine blue, 50-fold).
Figure 4
Figure 4
After 12 weeks of healing, mature lamellar bone is evident in intimate contact with the zirconia implant (left) and titanium implant (right) (toluidine blue, 100-fold).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Diagram depicting the increase in bone-to-implant contact (BIC) with time (1, 4, 12 weeks). No statistical significance was detected between the two treatment groups (p < 0.05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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