Mechanical and histological investigations on pressureless sintered SiC dental implants

The effect of sinterability manufacturing conditions, such as Si/C ratio, additives, firing temperature on mechanical properties of pressureless sintered SiC having electrical resistivity and oxidation behaviour in moist were studied. In order to evaluate the possibility of dental implant application of SiC, the implant study using rat femurs was performed. SiC was implanted in the drilled hole of the femurs and the histologic reaction to SiC was investigated under light microscopy and CMR. SiC provoked endosteal as bone formation. At 1-3 weeks, it was observed the formation of callus around the SiC implant. Finally, the intervening fibrous tissue between the encapsulating bone and SiC was replaced by bone tissue which was outgowing from the encapsulating bone surface. The observed interface between bone and SiC was similar to the bone-HA interface as to morphology. These results indicate the clinical application of SiC as a dental implant.