Histomorphometric analysis of a half hydroxyapatite-coated implant in humans: A pilot study

The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of the bone-to-imp lant interface of hydroxyapatite-coated and non-coated commercially pure ti tanium threaded implants after different periods of healing in humans. To e liminate possible variations of the results from differences in bone qualit y and in surgical techniques used in the different test and control sites, only one half of each implant was coated with hydroxyapatite. The coated po rtions of the implants showed a tendency toward a higher percentage of dire ct bone-to-implant contact at each period of healing that was observed, alt hough the small number of specimens does not allow definitive conclusions t o be made.