Bio-activated titanium surface utilizable for mimetic bone implantation in dentistry-Part III: Surface characteristics and bone-implant contact formation

This study was carried out to quantify the effect of an alkali-modified surface on the bone-implant interface formation during healing using an animal model. A total of 24 screw-shaped, self-tapping, (c.p.) titanium dental implants, divided into test group B-implants with alkali-modified surface (Bio surface) and control group M-implants with turned, machined surface, were inserted without pre-tapping in the tibiae of three beagle dogs. The animals were sacrificed after 2, 5 and 12 weeks and the bone-implant contact (BIC%) was evaluated histometrically. The surface characteristics that differed between the implant surfaces, i.e. specific surface area, contact angle, may represent factors that influence the rate of osseointegration and the secondary implant stability. The alkali-treated surface enhances the BIC formation during the first 2-5 weeks of healing compared to the turned, machined surface.