Objective: Alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ) is more fracture resistant than unmodified zirconia and has been shown to be a viable substrate for the growth of osteoblasts. In this study, we examined the histological and biomechanical behavior of moderately roughened ATZ implants in rat femoral bone.
Methods: Miniature implants made of ATZ with pore-building polymers sintered onto the surface and electrochemically anodized titanium (TiUnite®) were placed into the femurs of Sprague-Dawley rats. Implant surface topography was analyzed by 3D laserscan measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After a healing period of 14 and 28 days, respectively, histologic and biomechanical testing was performed.
Results: Under the SEM, the TiUnite® surface could be clearly distinguished from the ATZ surface, but 3D laserscan measurements indicated a moderately rough surface topography for both, TiUnite® (Sa=1.31μm) and ATZ (Sa=1.51μm). The mean mineralized bone-to-implant contact showed the highest values after 14 and 28 days for TiUnite® (58%/75%) as compared to ATZ (24%/41%). The push-in values after a healing period of 14 and 28 days, respectively, increased from 20N to 39N for TiUnite® and from 10N to 25N for ATZ.
Significance: Our findings suggest that the moderately roughened ATZ implant surface is well accepted by rat bone tissue. However, compared to titanium, the osseointegration-process of ATZ seems to proceed more slowly in that early phase of implant integration.
Keywords: Alumina toughened zirconia; Cell-culture study; Dental implants; Histomorphometry; Push-in test; Surface topography.
Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.