MORPHOLOGIC STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGIC SEAL OF TITANIUM DENTAL IMPLANTS - REPORT II - IN-VIVO STUDY ON THE DEFENDING MECHANISM OF EPITHELIAL ADHESION ATTACHMENT AGAINST INVASIVE FACTORS/

Clinical measurements on gingival indices and morphologic observations were performed in this study to verify the defending mechanism of gin gival soft tissue against foreign invasions from the perspective of ep ithelial adhesion/attachment to implant surfaces in the monkey mandibl e. The following zones were observed using scanning electron microscop y: (1) plaque zone, suggesting susceptibility of the gingival tissue t o bacterial invasion; (2) nude zone, demonstrating indirect adhesion o f epithelial cells to the implant surface through the mucous layer and preventing bacterial invasion; and (3) epithelial cell attached zone, having greater bond strength of epithelial cells at the cell-implant interface as compared to cell-cell bonding within the epithelial cell layer. This study suggested that epithelial cell attachment/adhesion m ay play a dominant role in retaining the successful condition of a den tal implant.