[Hydroxyapatite coated dental implants. Biological criteria and prosthetic possibilities]

Incorporating contemporary implant research and the most advanced principals of biomaterials and bioengineering puts HA-coated implant system into clinical practice. This system utilizes a streamline precision two-stage procedure similar to the swedish method and other osseointegrated systems to ensure complete fixation and an unloaded healing phase prior to the functional use of implants. The surgical concept has been theoretically improved upon by enhancing the titanium cylinders with a HA coating of 50 to 65 microns to the body. The advantages of HA have been extensively discussed. Research has shown that a biochemical reaction occurs between HA and bone and the interface between bone and ceramic is stronger than either the ceramic or bone alone. Bone adapts well to all biocompatible metals and bone will "chemically" bond to HA. An activated sintering process has been developed that enables HA to be chemically bound to the titanium cylinder using a modification of the plasma flame spray technology. This HA coating has been developed to meet the most rigorous biomechanical requirements for bonding in high stress applications of orthopedics as well as intraoral use. Biointegration is defined as "mechanochemical" clinically significant interface that predictably develops between vital load bearing bone and a bioactive calcium-phosphate ceramic metal such as HA. The design and planning of the HA-coated metal system also provides a variety of restorative choices and have been extensively discussed in this article. Clinical reports appear excellent, and the current implant system is into its fifth year of clinical use. The use of HA-coated implants has very well satisfied restorative needs as well as following sound biologic principle.