COMPARISON OF TITANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM RELEASE FROM TITANIUM AND ZIRCONIA IMPLANTS IN MINI PIG MAXILLAE

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the release of titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr) into the tissue surrounding Ti- and ZrO₂-implants.

Methyl methacrylate embedded mini pig maxillae with 6 Ti-implants and 4 ZrO2-implants were analysed after 12-weeks of implantation. The spatial distribution of elemental Ti and Zr in maxillae near implants was assessed with laser ablation (LA)-inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-mass spectrometry (MS). From each maxilla two bone slices adjacent to the implants were measured. The contents of Ti and Zr in these bone slices were determined by ICP-MS and ICP-optical emission spectrometry.

Increased intensity of Ti and Zr could be detected in bone tissues at a distance of 891±398 µm (mean ± SD) from Ti-implants and 927±404 µm from ZrO2-implants. The increased intensity was mainly detected near implant screw threads. The average Ti content detected in 11 bone slices from samples with Ti-implants was 1.67 mg/kg, which is significantly higher than the Ti content detected in 8 slices from samples with ZrO₂-implants. The highest Ti content detected was 2.17 mg/kg. The average Zr content in 4 bone slices from samples with ZrO₂-implants is 0.59 mg/Kg, the other 4 bone slices showed Zr contents below the detection limit (

After 12-weeks of implantation, increased intensity of Ti and Zr can be detected in bone tissues near Ti- and ZrO₂-implants. The results show that Ti content released from Ti-implants is higher than the Zr content released from ZrO₂-implants.