Histological Investigation of Apatite Ceramics Used as Immediate Endosseous Implant

Abstract

Apatite ceramics implant (A.C.I.) has received extensive animal and human investigation and its clinical success has been confirmed by histological studies.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of applying the A.C.I. as an immediate endosseous implant.
The experimental method consisted of drilling holes 5.0mms-7.0mms in diameter and 12mms in depth into the tooth extraction sockets (P3, P4) in adult dogs, inserting cylinder shaped A.C.I. 5.1mms-7.1mms in diameter and 16mms in length into the hole so that the A.C.I. extended 4mms above the bone surface and suturing the gingival tissue around the A.C.I.. In some cases, the gaps existing between the extraction socket wall and the A.C.I. were filled with the porous apatite ceramics grains (A.C.grains) . Histological examination of the specimens was made 1 week to 3 months after implantation.
In the buccolingual sections, there were no significant histological differences between the immediate implantation and the implantation after the healing of the extraction wounds. In the mesiodistal sections of the A.C.I. without the A.C.grains, the shallow areas of the A.C.I. were surrounded by a dense connective tissue at 3 months. In the cases with A.C. grains, the bone formation areas around and on the A.C.I. were more extensive, the gingival sulcus around the A.C.I. was extremely shallow and the downward growth of the epithelial cells was minimal at 3 months.