| Abstract: | This study deals with bioreactive materials for potential applications as endosseus dental implants. Currently used dental implants are made of dental alloys but due to cytotoxic problems, high strength ceramic materials appear as an interesting alternative to these alloys. In order to combine good mechanical properties and promotion of the osteointegration process, a ceramic composite material composed of 10 wt.% tricalcium phosphate (TCP) mixed with partially stabilized zirconia has been elaborated. Such a ceramic has been implanted into albino rats, the sites of implantation being the adrenal gland for the toxicity evaluation and the sphenoid bone to estimate the osteogenesis potential. These results have been compared to those obtained with implants made of alumina (Al2O3), zirconia (ZrO2) or poly(ethylene terephthalate) (Dacron®). In all cases no rejection effect was observed. The histological study indicated that ZrO2-TCP ceramics induced a marginal and subjacent cell disorganization. However, the existence of an irregular cellular band indicated a cellular colonization process on the TCP particles. The microscopy study of the implants after removal confirmed the bioresorption of TCP. |
