Objectives: Calcium-phosphate (CP) coated implants are usually referred to as having osteoconductive properties, whereas titanium implants with a native oxide layer are considered less osteoconductive. Often smooth titanium oxides are compared with relatively rough CP structures. The objective of this study was to evaluate osteoconduction by comparing bone-implant contact at a smooth, highly crystalline CP coating with a structured, porous titanium oxide (TO) surface. Our hypothesis was that the porous TO structure would have osteoconductive properties similar to that of the CP.

Methods: Ten adult Hound Labrador mongrel dogs were used. Four titanium dental implants (ø 3.75 x 8.5-mm; Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) with CP (2) or TO (2) surfaces were installed 12 weeks following mandibular premolar and molar teeth extraction. The dental implants were alternated within and between jaw quadrants in consecutive animals. Mucosal flaps were advanced and sutured leaving the implants in a submerged position. The animals were injected with fluorescent bone labels at 3 and 4 weeks postsurgery, and pre-euthanasia to monitor progress of bone formation. They were euthanized at 8 weeks postsurgery and block biopsies were prepared for histologic and histometric analysis.

Results: There were no remarkable differences in bone formation and apparent bone-implant contact comparing the TO and CP surfaces. However, the measured average bone-implant contact was 71% and 57% (p-value: 0.027) for TO and CP implants, respectively.

Conclusions: We conclude that the porous TO structure has osteoconductive properties similar to the relatively smooth CP surface. It appears that the porosity enhances bone formation along the surface in a manner not expected for smooth, native titanium oxides.

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