To Örebro University

Aim: To investigate the effect of calcium concentration on the bone tissue response to Ca-incorporated titanium implants.

Materials and methods: Two titanium surfaces containing 4.2% and 6.6% calcium were prepared using the micro-arc oxidation process. The implants were inserted in the tibia of nine New Zealand White rabbits. After 6 weeks of healing, the bone response to the implants was quantitatively compared by biomechanical and histomorphometrical measurements.

Results: Ca 4.2% and Ca 6.6% containing implants revealed no distinctive differences in their qualitative surface chemistry; chemical bonding state of Ca in titanium oxide was mainly calcium titanates. No significant differences were observed between two implants in peak removal torque and shear strength comparisons (P>0.05). Histomorphometrical analyses presented no significant differences in bonemetal contact, bone area and newly formed bone measurements between two implants (P>0.05).

Conclusions: From biomechanical and histomorphometrical measurements, the two calcium concentrations in this study did not differ significantly with respect to their influence on the bone tissue response. This similar bone response in rabbit tibiae may be explained by the similarity of the qualitative Ca chemistry in titanium surfaces.