Effect of boron nitride-coating on the osseointegration of titanium dental implants – A rabbit model

Background

Modification of titanium dental implants are of great interest to enhance osseointegration and may provide successful long-term results. Boron nitride (BN), with its physical properties and beneficial effects on bone formation and composition, can be a promising material as a coating substance

Aim/Hypothesis

The aim of this study was to evaluate osseointegration of BN coated implants both histomorphometrically and biomechanically on a rabbit model. BN has been coated two different coating thicknesses by using RF magnetron sputtering system.

Material and Methods

Totally fifty-four implants were inserted into the tibias’ of 12 New Zealand rabbits. Implants were placed bilaterally into the tibias under general anesthesia. All animals were sacrificed using intravenous sodium pentobarbital after 4 weeks. For the implants used for histomorphometric evaluation, bone-implant contact (BIC) percentages and new bone area total area (BATA) were calculated. The removal torque (RT) test was performed and the highest removal torque required for creating a fracture between the implant and bone was measured.

Results

As a result of histomorphometric evaluations, the highest BIC percentages were observed in the control group, whereas the micro scale (micro-coated) BN group had a lower but comparable BIC level with the control group. In the nano-scale (nano-coated) BN group, the BIC percentages were low. The bone tissue in the medullary cavity was the highest in the micro-scale BN group, whereas the lowest values were observed in the control group. The RT values measured in all groups were found low, but the highest RT values torque was observed in the control group.

Conclusion and Clinical Implications

As a result, no inflammatory problem developed around any implant. Osseointegration occurred around all control and BN-coated implants. This research was supported by The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) with the project no 114S391.