Effect of titanium surface functionalization with bioactive glass on osseointegration : an experimental study in dogs.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of surface functionalization with bioactive glass BSF18 on the osseointegration of sandblasted and dual acid-etched surface (AE) implants. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty Morse taper implants with an AE surface as controls (C) or with an AE surface functionalized with BSF18 (BF) were placed in the mandibles of 10 beagles. Implants were analysed after 2 and 4 weeks of healing. Implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were registered immediately after installation and prior to sacrifice. Samples were analysed for bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone density (BD). The characterization of BF implants included surface roughness analysis with atomic force microscopy and contact angle (CA) analysis to evaluate wettability. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Surface roughness was not affected by BF treatment. CA was lower in the BF group compared to the C group. No significant difference was observed in ISQ values between surfaces (p=0,231), irrespective of time. Significantly higher ISQ values were observed for both implants after 4 weeks when compared with baseline (p=0.04). Significantly higher BIC (p= 0.011) and BD (p=0.025) values were observed for the BF compared to the C group at 2 weeks. Significantly higher BIC (p=0.030) and BD (p=0.015) values for the C group were observed at 4 weeks compared to 2 weeks. No significant difference was observed in the BF group between 2 and 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Implant functionalization with BSF18 improved the wettability of the implant surface; enhancing BIC and BD at 2 weeks. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved