Initial interfacial healing events around calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coated oral implants

The bone response to different calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coated and non-coated titanium implants was evaluated in a goat animal model. Two types of Ca-P coatings have been investigated: an experimental plasma-spray bi-layered Ca-P coating (FA-HA) and an amorphous:RF magnetron sputter coating (Ca-P-a). Fifty-four conical screw shaped implants were inserted in the lateral and medial femoral condyles of 18 Saanen goats. After implantation periods of 3, 12 and 24 days, the bone-implant interface was evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically. Light microscopical evaluation revealed that bone formation on the Ca-P coated implants proceeded faster. At 24 days higher percentages of bone contact were measured for both Ca-P coated implants than for non-coated implants. However, this difference was only significant for the FA-HA coated implants. On basis of these findings, we concluded that Ca-P coatings show improved bone response due to an initial difference in bone cell response.