IN-VIVO EVALUATION OF AN EXPERIMENTAL DENTAL HA-TI IMPLANT

A new design of Titanium dental implant, coated with Titanium oxide an d with a Hydroxyapatite apex, was experimented in a Beagle dog's jaw f or one year to evaluate the biocompatibility of the materials used and the biomechanical efficiency of the design. The explanted prosthesis and the surrounding bone were embedded in methylmethacrylate resin and the sections observed under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), with an X-ray microprobe to check the interface with bone and the occurrenc e of ionic release. The results showed that the pin was well accepted by the bone. New bone grew on the metal surface developing a mechanica l bond with the prosthesis. No ionic release of the metal was seen.