A Comprehensive Histomorphometric and Surface Roughness Evaluation of Sandblasted Acid-Etched (SLA) Titanium Alloy...

Oral implants are a reliable and effective solution for replacing missing teeth. The surface topography of dental implants is essential for osseointegration, a critical factor for long-term success. Both macroscopic and microscopic features of the implant surface contribute significantly to achieving and maintaining osseointegration. Surface topography is especially important for the bone-tissue response to a dental implant, particularly during unloaded conditions. This factor enhances osseointegration in compromised bone conditions, where an oxidized surface can improve coagulum stability, facilitating bone healing on the implant surface.

Forty titanium alloy implants of a commercially available design, each 4 mm in diameter and 8 mm in length, were used. The implants were divided into two groups: 20 control implants with machined surfaces and 20 test implants treated with SLA. All implants had a similar thread design (Buttress, IFIX, India). The first part of the study assessed surface roughness using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and evaluated surface topography with a 3D optical profilometer using white light laser. The second part investigated the early bone response and biological reaction to the modified implant surface using Netherland lop-eared rabbits. Test and control implants were placed contra laterally in the left and right hind legs of the rabbits, both in the proximal tibia and distal femur condyle. All implants were retrieved en bloc with the surrounding bone, fixed in 4% buffered formaldehyde, and subjected to histomorphometric analysis.

SLA-treated titanium alloy implants showed greater bone volume and bone-to-implant contact compared to machined surface implants.