A clinical, radiographic, and histological evaluation of permucosal dental implants of dense hydroxylapatite in dogs.

A clinical, histological, and radiographic examination was performed on 77 permucosal dental implants, made of dense sintered hydroxylapatite: 34 solid cylinders and 43 hollow cylinders. The hollow cylinders were pre-compressed between two titanium caps. The implants were placed in partly edentulous mandibles of dogs, and were physiologically loaded. Healing was clinically and radiographically evaluated during a six-month to five-year period. At various times, implants with their surrounding tissues were removed and prepared for light and electron microscopy. All implants showed a good initial fit and were maintained in place without undercut or mechanical stabilization. After 18 months, 76% of the solid cylinders had fractured at the implant/bone junction due to fatigue. However, the submerged portions of the solid cylinders were preserved without clinical problems, and became entirely embedded in bone. The pre-stressed implants did not fracture, and 91% were functioning 24 months after placement. The average scores of pocket depths and gingival bleeding showed no significant differences between implants and surrounding natural teeth. Bone deposition occurred on the entire surface of the implant below the crest of the alveolar bone, and intimate bone contact was confirmed by electron microscopy. It was also observed that a layer of bone tissue was deposited on the implant surface in the permucosal area just above the alveolar bone level. Embedding of gingival fibers in this layer resulted in gingival attachment to the implant, comparable with that of natural teeth.