New bone formation between bare titanium surface and hydroxyapatite coating by the aerosol deposition technique in the nasal mucosal penetration model

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare new bone formation with titanium (Ti) surface and hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated titanium surface in mucosal perforation model. Materials and Methods: HA coating to the Ti disc and implant were done by aerosol deposition technique. Alkaline phosphatase assay and cell migration assay were done in Ti and HA surface disc with MG63 cells. For the in vivo test, 5 New Zealand white rabbits were used. Two penetration defects were prepared in the nasal bone. Subsequently, 2 types of implants were installed into the defect (diameter: 3.0 mm, length: 6.0 mm). Approximately 5.0 mm of the fixture’s surface penetrated into the nasal cavity. In the experimental group, HA-coated implants were used. The same design of implants without coating was used in the control group. The animals were sacrificed 8 weeks postoperatively. Subsequently, a histomorphometric analysis was done. Results: Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher in HA-coated surface than in titanium surface (P G 0.05). In addition, more cells were migrated into the HA-coated surface when compared to Ti surface. In the animal experiments, mean new bone formation was 30.68 T 14.16% in the experimental group and 6.92 T 5.12% in the control group (P = 0.001). Mean bone-to-implant contact was 31.71 T 8.41% in the experimental group and 7.98 T 5.58% in the control group (P G 0.001). Mean height of the bone regeneration was 3.70 T 0.76 mm in the experimental group and 1.04 T 0.67 mm in the control group. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P G 0.001). Conclusions: HA-coated implants exhibited more bone regeneration in the mucosal penetration model than the uncoated implants.