Osseointegration of Tantalum Trabecular Metal in Titanium Dental Implants: Histological and Micro-CT Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of the Tantalum Trabecular Metal dental implant design on implant stability and the process of osseointegration following its placement in the rabbit femoral condyle. The subjects for the experiment consisted of 10 New Zealand white rabbits. Twenty implants, comprising 10 Trabecular Metal (TM) and 10 Traditional Screw Vent (TSV) implants, were placed into the femoral condyles of these rabbits. The implant type was alternated based on a random sequence. Following a healing period of 8 weeks, the implants were retrieved for further analysis using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), histological studies, and histomorphometry evaluations. The Bone-to-Implant Contact (BIC) ratio and the Bone Volume (BV) percentage in the region of interest were subsequently assessed. The BIC and BV values between TM and TSV implants were compared using the Student t-test. The TM implants exhibited significantly greater BIC and BV scores. In particular, the BIC percentage was recorded as 57.9 ± 6.5 for the TM implants, as opposed to 47.6 ± 8 for the TSV implants. Correspondingly, the BV percentage was 57 ± 7.3 for the TM implants and 46.4 ± 7.4 for the TSV implants. The bone volume percentage measured using micro-CT evaluation was 89.1 ± 8.7 for the TM implants and 79.1 ± 8.6 for the TSV implants. Given the observed results, it is plausible to suggest that the bone growth surrounding the tantalum mesh could have improved the integration of the bone and facilitated its ingrowth into the TM implant.

Tissue engineering innovations to enhance osseointegration in immediate dental implant loading: A narrative review

“…Osteocyte lacunae were many and spherical, a characteristic feature of woven bone, and were densely populated in these bone trabeculae. 78…”

“…An in vivo study of osseointegration of titanium dental implants coated with tantalum trabecular metal. 78 reverse torque and histomorphometric analysis at 1-and 3-month examinations. 88 According to Jun et al (2021), UV treatment and simvastatin immersion were evaluated in rabbit tibias and compared in terms of the effects of xenogenic bone grafts on osseointegration of titanium dental implants sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched at two different time points.…”

“…There was some remodeling of bone trabeculae and the formation of vascular canals. Osteocyte lacunae were many and spherical, a characteristic feature of woven bone, and were densely populated in these bone trabeculae 78 …”

“…An in vivo study of osseointegration of titanium dental implants coated with tantalum trabecular metal 78 …”

Research Progress of Titanium-Based Alloys for Medical Devices

“…In vitro studies have presented the proliferation and adhesion of osteoblasts to the surface of the porous tantalum rod showing a variety of shapes and intercellular connections [18]. In in vivo studies, researchers have described peri-implant vascular proliferation and the formation of new bone tissue and bone trabeculae directly connected to the alloy [12,[19][20][21]. In a study on rats, Jugdaohsingh et al [22] showed that silicon was found in bones as well as elastane and collagen of the connective tissues in organs such as the aorta, bone, trachea or tendon up to 50 fold compared with the non-connective viscera (liver, kidney and spleen), and even if the concentration of silicon had increased with age, the highest content was found in the connective tissue of young weanling rats.…”