2011 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 135-141
We investigated the potential of the osteoconductive material β-tricalcium phosphate to promote bone healing when coated on a titanium alloy screw implanted in the mandibular tooth socket of a healthy rat. Forty-eight 9-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: the Blast group, which received blast-treated screws; the βTCP group, which received β-tricalcium phosphate-coated screws; and the Control group, which received mechanically polished screws. Mandibles were removed at 3 or 9 weeks after screw implantation. Screw removal torques were measured using a handheld torque gauge and compared. At both 3 and 9 weeks after implantation, the screw removal torques were significantly greater in the βTCP group than in the Blast and Control groups (p<0.05). Removal torques did not differ significantly between the Blast and Control groups at either time point. These results suggest that a β-tricalcium phosphate coating on screws accelerates osseous healing around the screw and increases the retentive capacity of the screw. A β-tricalcium phosphate-coated implant fitted into the tooth socket immediately after extraction may therefore provide a favorable environment for early loading of implants.
