The World Health Organization goal for the year 2000, namely to maintain a natural dentition of not less than 20 teeth throughout life, is substantiated by the current literature review as this proposed dentition will assure an acceptable level of oral function.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histometrical and biomechanical anchorage of TiO2-blasted implants and TiO2-blasted implants coated with hydroxyapatite. The control implants were machined. Twenty-six rabbits had a total of 156 implants placed in the proximal part of the tibia. Each rabbit had a machined, a TiO2-blasted, and a TiO2-blasted, HA-coated implant placed in each tibia. After a healing period of 3 and 12 weeks, respectively, the implants placed in the right tibia were used for removal torque test, and the implants placed in the left tibia were used for histomorphometrical measurements. Preoperatively, implants from the same batches were examined topographically with a TopScan 3D system. The TiO2-blasted implants demonstrated significantly higher removal torque values than the machined implants, and they also had a significantly more irregular surface. Furthermore, significantly higher bone-to-implant contact length fractions were measured adjacent to the TiO2-blasted implants in contrast to the machined implants. The advantages of a TiO2-blasted surface were more pronounced after 3 weeks than after 12 weeks. The results demonstrated that it was possible to influence the anchorage of implants by altering the surface structure morphology. The new method with TiO2 blasting on the titanium surface improves the anchorage of implants but is not yet practicable for HA coating.

It is suggested that the progression of peri-implantitis, if left untreated, is more pronounced at implants with a moderately rough surface than at implants with a polished surface.

This 10-year prospective clinical trial demonstrated a 100% implant survival and a 90% crown survival. The average marginal bone level change was less than 1 mm, and there was no difference between early and delayed implant placement. Patient satisfaction with the implant-supported single crowns reduced with time.

The present study demonstrated that a clear relation exists between surface roughness, described in Sa values, and implant anchorage assessed by RMT measurements. The anchorage appeared to increase with the maturation of bone tissue during healing.