[Implants of fired ceramics in the dog. Preliminary study. Morphology of bone coaptation after 3 and 7 months]

An experimental study of biocompatibility for ceramic material was undertaken in dogs. We used 8 implants and 1 filling-up material in the alveolar bone. A regular radiographic control of the good coaptation and tolerance of these implants was done after various intervals. The sacrifice was performed at 3 and 7 months after the implantation. The good coaptation between alveolar bone and implant was demonstrated by means of different morphological methods. Thus, microradiographs of anatomical specimens, routine histological study following decalcification, analysis of some specimens without decalcification showed the tight coaptation between implant and alveolar bone, without any foreign-body granuloma or allergic reaction. Besides, by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, we could identify the various types of cells (macrophages, fibroblasts and osteoblasts) noted at the interface of the implant matrix at various intervals after the operation. By histoenzymological methods, we also tested the functional activity of these cells, peculiarly their possible osteogenic ability (alkaline phosphatase and ATPase highly positives in some of these cells).