The role of biomimetic incubation of sandblasted titanium implants in the process of osseointegration: an experimental study in dogs.

The present study was created to examine the surface characteristics, bone response and values of removal torque of an implant surface subjected to sandblasting with 125 μm Al2O3 particles with a following immersion in biomimetic fluid and to compare that surface with a machined implant surface. Study protocol: Forty-eight conical implants were initially made of second-grade titanium alloy. The diameter of implants was 4 mm at the head and 2.6 at the apex, all implants were of 8 mm length and of large variable thread design. Half of them were subjected to sand blasting and immersion in biomimetic fluid at 37 °C for four weeks with daily replenishment of solution until the moment of placement; another 24 implants were left with untreated machined surface. Three-dimensional roughness values were obtained with the help of confocal laser scanning microscope. Forty-eight implants were implanted in 12 dogs. Twenty-four implants were retrieved after a 6-week healing period following installation, and the remaining 24 were removed upon the completion of 16 weeks, using a torque calibrator ((BTG150CN-S TOHNICHI) with a 20 cN·m - 150 cN·m scale of force registration was applied for the measurements of the removal torque.