Histologic and histomorphometric analysis of the bone response to machinedand sandblasted titanium implants: An experimental study in rabbits

The aim of this study was to make a comparative analysis between the bone r esponse to machined and sandblasted implants. The sandblasting was done wit h 150-mu m aluminum oxide particles. Under scanning electron microscopic ex amination, the machined implants presented typical machining grooves, while a very rough, highly irregular surface with depressions and indentations w as present on the sandblasted implants. Light microscopy showed a different bone growth pattern on machined (implantopetal growth) and sandblasted (im plantofugal growth) implants. No negative effects on the rate of bone growt h were observed in spite of the presence of aluminum ions. The histomorphom etric analysis showed that sandblasted implants presented, from the third w eek onwards, a significantly higher contact percentage (P < .0001). These v alues could point to higher osteoconductivity as a result of the higher sur face roughness of sandblasted surfaces. (Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 199 8;13:805-810).