Histological and Histomorphometric Evaluation of Zirconia Dental Implants Modified by Femtosecond Laser versus Titanium Implants: An Experimental Study in Fox Hound Dogs.

PURPOSE: This study applied femtosecond laser technology to zirconia dental implants (Bredent GmbH & Co.KG, Senden, Germany) to generate a surface texture of microgrooves over the entire intraosseous surface, analyzing its behavior in an in vivo model in comparison with titanium implants with sandblasted and acid-etched surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study used six American Fox Hound dogs. Each received four implants per hemi-mandible, making a total of eight implants per animal. The 48 immediate loaded implants were divided into two groups of 24 titanium implants (control group) and 24 zirconia implants (study/test group), distributed randomly. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) values and crestal resorption were determined at 1 and 3 months, also measuring calcium, phosphorous, and carbon concentrations by means of energy dispersive x-ray. RESULTS: BIC percentages after 30 days were 51.36% for titanium implants and 44.68% for zirconia implants. After 90 days, values increased to 61.73% in titanium and 47.94% in zirconia implants. After 30 days, there was more crestal bone lost in the titanium group (0.77 mm) compared with the zirconia group (0.01 mm). After 90 days, zirconia implants showed greater marginal bone resorption (1.25 mm) compared with the titanium group (0.37 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that zirconia implants with modified surfaces can produce good osseointegration values when compared with titanium implants in terms of BIC and crestal bone resorption at 1 and 3 months.