Comparative study of vitreous carbon, pyrolytic carbon, pyrolytic graphite/silicon-carbide, and titanium implants in rabbit mandibles

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the biocompatibility of vitreous carbon, pyrolytic carbon, and pyrolytic graphite/silicon-carbide with rabbit mandibular tissues. Titanium was employed as the control material. Twelve New Zealand albino rabbits were implanted with each of the four materials described. Groups of four animals each were killed at 14 days, 45 days, and 90 days. Block sections containing the implants were then removed from the rabbit mandibles, and representative sections were evaluated histologically. All of the implants elicited similar reactions, including fibrous connective tissue capsule formation, multinucleated phagocytic cells, a mild inflammatory infiltrate, and reactive bone. On the basis of these findings, it appears that further detailed investigations are necessary to elucidate the biologic ramifications of the implantation of carbons in mammalian tissues.