THE EFFECT OF CA-P PLASMA-SPRAYED COATINGS ON THE INITIAL BONE HEALING OF ORAL IMPLANTS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN THE GOAT

The response of bone of low density to uncoated, fluorapatite (FA), hy droxyapatite (HA), and hydroxyapatite heat treated (HAHT) plasma-spray ed coated implants was investigated 3 and 6 months after installation. Forty-eight threaded implants of commercially pure titanium were inse rted into the maxilla of twelve goats according to a split-plot design . One goat died shortly after installation of the implants, five goats were sacrificed 3 months after installation, and the other six goats 6 months after installation. Histological evaluation revealed no diffe rence in bone reaction between the 3- and 6-month implantation periods . In addition, probably due to the wide inter- and intra-animal variab ility, no significant difference between the 3- and the 6-month period s could be observed in the histomorphometrical measurements performed. Further, no significant differences were found in bone reaction among the various implant materials. Finally, qualitatively it appeared tha t all coatings showed reduction in coating thickness and that such red uctions were most pronounced for the HA coatings. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.