A histologic study of nonsubmerged titanium plasma-sprayed screw implants retrieved from a patient: a case report

The authors report on the microscopic findings in two plasma-sprayed nonsubmerged implants retrieved from a patient 6 months after placement. One of the implants had been loaded for 3 months, while the other was left unloaded. Clinically, the peri-implant gingival tissues were in good health. The implants were sectioned according to the cutting-grinding system. Bone lined the titanium surface almost completely with 77.3% +/- 5.1% of contact in the unloaded implant and 86.5% +/- 3.3% of contact in the loaded implant. Signs of bone resorption with many macrophages and osteoclasts were present in the loaded implant, while in the unloaded implant only osteoclast resorption activity was demonstrable.