The shear strength between bone and porous ceramic root implants in the guinea pig incisor socket

Porous alumina and apatite implants have been placed in 67 guinea pig incisor tooth sockets after tooth extraction under anaesthetic. Bone readily grew into the spaces of the implant, and reduced the fibrous connective tissue between implant and bone. 'Pushout' tests have monitored the shear strength of the interlock between bone and implant. Despite considerable variation in the interlock strength, apatite produced the strongest bone interlock. The interlock with alumina tended to be more fibrous. The relative merits of fibrous and bone interlocks in immediate root implants are considered for the augmentation of the alveolar ridge and prosthetic treatment.