Clinical and radiographic experience with a hydroxyapatite-coated titanium plasma-sprayed porous implant.

Recent efforts to improve the interface between implant and bone have involved the use of bioactive materials, specifically hydroxyapatite (HA). HA coatings applied to implants have shown excellent clinical results at 2 years. There have been no radiolucent lines around the HA-coated implants. The long-term strength of the HA coating-substrate bone interface remains a concern as osseointegration of the HA appears to be a consistent phenomenon. This can lead potentially to an interruption between the substrate itself and the osseointegrated coating.