This in vitro and in vivo study compared different topographies of Ti samples (dense, porosity of 30% and 40%) with or not CaP coating, prepared by powder metallurgy. Osteogenic cells from newborn rat calvaria were plated onto the samples and cell adhesion (24 hours), alkaline phosphatase activity (7 and 10 days) and mineralization nodules (14 days) were assessed. Sixteen rabbits were used for in vivo study. Each animal received three non-treated and three treated implants in the right or left tibia, respectively. Histometric evaluation of bone-implant contact (BIC) were assessed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Metallographic analysis revealed porosities of 30% and 40%, with pore size ranging from 250 to 350 µm. Cell adhesion test and ALP revealed similar cell behavior, independently of topography and CaP coating (P > 0.05%). However, CaP coating combined with porosity of 40% influenced positively the mineralized matrix formation (P < 0.05%). CaP-coated implants showed higher BIC than non-CaP implants and BIC was different between the short (1 and 2 weeks) and long (4 and 8 weeks) healing periods (P < 0.05%). The results suggest that CaP coating combined with 40% porosity implants allowed greater osteogenesis in vitro and increased BIC in vivo.

Considerando os valores relativamente pequenos utilizados em odontologia para os ensaios de carregamento verticais axiais, foi desenvolvido um dispositivo de aplicação de carga (DAC) para substituir a máquina de ensaios universal (EMIC). O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver um DAC e compará-lo com a EMIC por meio da utilização de carregamentos axiais e não-axiais. Num bloco de poliuretano foi inserido um implante hexágono externo, o qual foi conectado a um pilar protético esteticone. Sobre o pilar protético foi parafusada uma coifa plástica e um pilar cônico foi modelado em resina acrílica, que foi moldada para a obtenção de dez enceramentos iguais que foram fundidos em níquel cromo. Quatro extensômetros foram diametralmente colados ao redor do implante. Cada corpo de prova foi submetido a cargas axiais central (C) e lateral (L) de 30 kgf, em ambos os dispositivos: G1) DAC/C; G2) DAC/L; G3) EMIC/C; G4) EMIC/L. Os dados (µε) foram analisados estatisticamente pelos testes de ANOVA para medidas repetidas e de Tukey (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os dispositivos DAC e EMIC, independente do tipo de carga. A aplicação de carga não-axial (NA) determinou um aumento significante de tensões ao redor do implante. Foi concluído que o DAC é uma opção confiável, a qual induz microtensão em implantes de forma semelhante à EMIC.

In view of the low loading values commonly employed in dentistry, a load-application device (LAD) was developed as option to the universal testing machine (UTM), using strain gauge analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a load-application device (LAD) and compare the LAD with the UTM apparatus under axial and non-axial loads. An external hexagonal implant was inserted into a polyurethane block and one EsthetiCone abutment was connected to the implant. A plastic prosthetic cylinder was screwed onto the abutment and a conical pattern crown was fabricated using acrylic resin. An impression was made and ten identical standard acrylic resin patterns were obtained from the crown impression, which were cast in nickel-chromium alloy (n=10). Four strain gauges were bonded diametrically around the implant. The specimens were subjected to central (C) and lateral (L) axial loads of 30 kgf, on both devices: G1: LAD/C; G2: LAD/L; G3: UTM/C; G4: UTM/L. The data (με) were statistically analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the UTM and LAD devices, regardless of the type of load. It was concluded that the LAD is a reliable alternative, which induces microstrains to implants similar to those obtained with the UTM.

OBJECTIVES: The present study used strain gauge analysis to perform an in vitro evaluation of the effect of axial loading on 3 elements of implant-supported partial fixed prostheses, varying the type of prosthetic cylinder and the loading points. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three internal hexagon implants were linearly embedded in a polyurethane block. Microunit abutments were connected to the implants applying a torque of 20 Ncm, and prefabricated Co-Cr cylinders and plastic prosthetic cylinders were screwed onto the abutments, which received standard patterns cast in Co-Cr alloy (n=5). Four strain gauges (SG) were bonded onto the surface of the block tangentially to the implants, SG 01 mesially to implant 1, SG 02 and SG 03 mesially and distally to implant 2, respectively, and SG 04 distally to implant 3. Each metallic structure was screwed onto the abutments with a 10 Ncm torque and an axial load of 30 kg was applied at five predetermined points (A, B, C, D, E). The data obtained from the strain gauge analyses were analyzed statistically by RM ANOVA and Tukey's test, with a level of significance of p<0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant difference for the loading point (p=0.0001), with point B generating the smallest microdeformation (239.49 µε) and point D the highest (442.77 µε). No significant difference was found for the cylinder type (p=0.748). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the type of cylinder did not affect in the magnitude of microdeformation, but the axial loading location influenced this magnitude.

OBJECTIVE: Using strain gauge (SG) analysis, the aim of this in vitro study was quantify the strain development during the fixation of three-unit screw implant-supported fixed partial dentures, varying the types of implant-abutment joints and the type of prosthetic coping. The hypotheses were that the type of hexagonal connection would generate different microstrains and the type of copings would produce similar microstrains after prosthetic screws had been tightened onto microunit abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three dental implants with external (EH) and internal (IH) hexagonal configurations were inserted into two polyurethane blocks. Microunit abutments were screwed onto their respective implant groups, applying a torque of 20 Ncm. Machined Co-Cr copings (M) and plastic prosthetic copings (P) were screwed onto the abutments, which received standard wax patterns. The wax patterns were cast in Co-Cr alloy (n=5), forming four groups: G1) EH/M; G2) EH/P; G3) IH/M and G4) IH/P. Four SGs were bonded onto the surface of the block tangentially to the implants, SG 1 mesially to implant 1, SG 2 and SG 3 mesially and distally to implant 2, respectively, and SG 4 distally to implant 3. The superstructure's occlusal screws were tightened onto microunit abutments with 10 Ncm torque using a manual torque driver. The magnitude of microstrain on each SG was recorded in units of microstrain (µε). The data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). RESULTS: Microstrain values of each group were: G1= 338.1±223.0 µε; G2= 363.9±190.9 µε; G3= 415.1±53.5 IE; G4= 363.9±190.9 µε. No statistically signifcant difference was found between EH and IH, regardless of the type of copings (p>0.05). The hypotheses were partially accepted. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the type of hexagonal connection and coping presented similar mechanical behavior under tightening conditions.

Porous titanium scaffolds are promising materials for biomedical applications such as prosthetic anchors, fillers and bone reconstruction. This study evaluated the bone/titanium interface of scaffolds with interconnected pores prepared by powder metallurgy, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Porous scaffolds and dense samples were implanted in the tibia of rabbits, which were subsequently killed 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. Initial bone neoformation was observed one week after implantation. Bone ingrowth in pores and the Ca/P ratio at the interface were remarkably enhanced at 4 and 8 weeks. The results showed that the interconnected pores of the titanium scaffolds promoted bone ingrowth, which increased over time. The powder metallurgy technique thus proved effective in producing porous scaffolds and dense titanium for biomedical applications, allowing for adequate control of pore size and porosity and promoting bone ingrowth.

O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar a reparação óssea ao redor de implantes de superfície porosa comparados com implantes de superfície rugosa, ambos confeccionados de titânio puro grau 2 por meio da técnica de metalurgia do pó. Os implantes foram inseridos em tíbias de coelhos. Foram utilizados neste estudo 7 coelhos machos, sendo que cada um recebeu 3 implantes de superfície porosa na tíbia esquerda e 3 implantes de superfície rugosa na tíbia direita. Os animais foram sacrificados 4 semanas após a cirurgia e os fragmentos das tíbias contendo os implantes foram submetidos à análise histológica e histomorfométrica, visando analisar a neoformação óssea na interface osso-implante. As médias (%) obtidas na análise histomorfométrica foram avaliadas por meio do teste estatístico t-student de amostras pareadas com nível de significância de 5%. Os resultados da análise histológica mostraram que a osseointegração foi obtida nos dois tipos de implantes com similar qualidade de tecido ósseo. Na análise histomorfométrica, verificaram-se médias de neoformação óssea na interface osso-implante de 79,69% ± 1,00 e 65,05 ± 1,23 para os implantes de superfície porosa e rugosa, respectivamente, e foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante entre os dois tipos de implantes com relação à quantidade de neoformação óssea. Concluiu-se que os implantes de superfície porosa contribuíram para a osseointegração devido à sua maior superfície de contato na interface osso-implante.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the bone repair around commercially pure titanium implants with rough and porous surface, fabricated using powder metallurgy technique, after their insertion in tibiae of rabbits. Seven male rabbits were used. Each animal received 3 porous-surface implants in the left tibia and 3 rough-surface implants in the right tibia. The rabbits were sacrificed 4 weeks after surgery and fragments of the tibiae containing the implants were submitted to histological and histomorphometric analyses to evaluate new bone formation at the implant-bone interface. Means (%) of bone neoformation obtained in the histomorphometric analysis were compared by Student's t-test for paired samples at 5% significance level.. The results of the histological analysis showed that osseointegration occurred for both types of implants with similar quality of bone tissue. The histomorphometric analysis revealed means of new bone formation at implant-bone interface of 79.69 ± 1.00% and 65.05 ± 1.23% for the porous- and rough-surface implants, respectively. Statistically significant difference was observed between the two types of implants with respect to the amount new bone formation (p<0.05). In conclusion, the porous-surface implants contributed to the osseointegration because they provide a larger contact area at implant-bone interface.