“…After three months, mucoperiosteal flaps were elevated bilaterally in the mandible and, using a non‐submerged technique, four implants, 3.6 × 11 mm (EV Astra Tech Implant System TM , Dentsply Implants IH AB) with two different surface characteristics (A and B) were installed on each side. The implant surface modification in group‐A implants was categorized as moderately rough according to Albrektsson and Wennerberg () and consisted of a combination of TiO‐blasting and acid‐etching (Sa 1.49 µm), while the surface modification in group B implants was categorized as smooth (Albrektsson & Wennerberg, ) and included only acid‐etching (Sa 0.36 µm) (Johansson, Gretzer, Jimbo, Mattisson, & Ahlberg, ; Mattisson, Gretzer, & Ahlberg, ; Thalji, Gretzer, & Cooper, ). The sequence of implant positioning was randomized between dogs but consistent between right and left side of the mandible within each animal.…”