[Systematic qualitative histology of enossal implants with anodically oxidised surfaces]

Histological analysis of dental implants is often quantified by calculating the bone-implant contact rate (bone volume/total volume), whereas qualitative aspects like osteoconduction are underrepresented. The aim of this study was to focus on the micro-architectural properties of the bone-implant contact under physiologic loading using a systematic analysis of these characteristics. In 16 Beagle dogs we inserted 6 different types of dental implants in the hard bone of the mandible and the soft bone of the maxilla. After a healing period of two months the implants were loaded for three months and then histologically analysed. For the metric evaluation of qualitative histological aspects 12 examiners answered pivotal questions: 1. Is the implant functional sufficient? 2. Do you see close contact to bone, were bone is present? 3. Is the amount of bone at the implant at least similar to the peripheral bone? 4. Is the bone to implant contact homogenous? 5. Does the bone show a functional architecture? 6. Do you find osseoconductive bone apposition at the crestal and apical border? A superiority of anodic oxidized surfaces can be seen in questions 1, 2 and 3 mainly for the comparison of identical macrodesigns (MkIII). The potential for osseoconductivity (questions 4 and 5) shows a tendency for significant differences for the ZL Ticer implant. Homogenous bone to implant contact is rarely found, in contrast to rather positive implant function ratings. This suggests the existence of an optimum in the bone to implant contact rate. Bone to implant contact rate as an isolated quantitative parameter should in future be completed by a systematic, standardised and blinded analysis of qualitative properties.