Histologic evaluation of hydroxylapatite-coated versus uncoated titanium blade implants in delayed and immediately loaded applications.

It has been suggested that the long-term success of blade implants could be improved by placing the implants using a two-stage surgical protocol to allow the implant to develop a direct bony interface instead of a fibrous tissue interface. This study compared the implant interfaces of delayed and immediately loaded blade implants in nonhuman primates. A second objective was to compare the effects of hydroxylapatite coating on delayed and immediate loading applications. The delayed loaded uncoated titanium and hydroxylapatite-coated blade implants did osseointegrate. This study also suggests that hydroxylapatite-coated blade implants may form a direct bony interface even when they are loaded immediately after implantation, provided that they are splinted to a firm natural tooth.