[Clinical and histopathological observation of CaO-P2O5-MgO-SiO2-CaF system glass ceramic tooth implants in monkeys]

The present study was undertaken to determine the biocompatibility of a newly-developed CaO-P2O5-MgO-SiO2-CaF system glass ceramic tooth implant. Two adult male monkeys were selected and 12 weeks after extraction of M1 and P1, 8 glass ceramic teeth were implanted into alveolar bone. At 1 week after implantation, 6 teeth were allowed occlusal function, and 2 teeth were left free from occlusion as control teeth. The implants were observed for 4-12 weeks and examined histopathologically. The results were as follows: 1. Seven implanted teeth were well maintained clinically, and only one tooth was lost after 5 weeks. 2. In histopathological observation, implanted teeth were surrounded by bone, and connected by bonyankylosis. At cervix of dental implant, connective tissue as also attached firmly to implanted tooth surfaces and epithelial attachment was observed. 3. Although these implants were allowed occlusal function at an early stage (1 week after implantation), osteogenesis around implants was not disturbed. These results suggest that the new glass ceramic implant has good biocompatibility and is useful as an implant tooth.