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Bone properties surrounding hydroxyapatite-coated custom osseous integrated dental implants.
M I Baker1, A W Eberhardt, D M Martin
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Summary
Long-term hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on dental implants show good bone integration. Bone near the implant interface exhibits altered mechanical properties and reduced mineral content after 11 years.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Research
- Dental Implantology
Background:
- Hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings enhance osseointegration of Custom Osseous Integrated Implants (COIIs).
- Long-term biomechanical properties of bone around HA-coated implants in humans remain under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the mechanical and histomorphometric properties of bone adjacent to HA-coated COIIs after approximately 11 years of clinical function.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of bone-implant interface from three retrieved human mandibular implants.
- Histomorphometry to assess bone-implant contact and residual HA coating.
- Nanoindentation to measure bone hardness and elastic modulus.
- Backscattered electron imaging to evaluate bone mineral content.
Main Results:
- High bone-implant contact (average 75%) and significant residual HA coating (52-70%) observed after 11 years.
- Bone near the interface (<200 μm) showed a significantly lower elastic modulus compared to more distant bone (>1000 μm).
- No significant difference in hardness or modulus between bone adjacent to residual HA and bone where coating was absent.
- Decreased mineral content in bone adjacent to the implant, indicated by darker gray levels in backscattered electron imaging.
Conclusions:
- Hydroxyapatite coatings remain largely intact and maintain high bone integration for over a decade.
- Bone mechanical properties are altered near the implant interface, with reduced elastic modulus and mineral content.
- These findings provide crucial long-term insights into the biomechanical behavior of bone surrounding HA-coated dental implants.
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