Influence of Implant Surface Coated with pH Buffering Agent on Early Osseointegration

Purpose: Surface treatment with pH buffering agent has been developed to achieve higher and faster osseointegration. The aim of this study was to evaluate its influence by measuring removal torque and analyzing histological characteristics. Materials and Methods: Titanium implants with following surfaces were used in this study: sand-blasted acid-etched (SA) surface (SA group as control I group), SA surface in calcium chloride aqueous solution (CA group as control II group) and SA surface coated with pH buffering agent (pH group as test group). Removal torque test after 2 weeks and bone-to-implant contact and bone area analyses at 2 and 4 weeks were performed. Result: The rotational torque values at 2 weeks were significantly higher in pH group ($107.5{\pm}6.2Ncm$, P<0.05). The mean values of bone-to-implant contact at 2 and 4 weeks were both higher in pH group ($93.0%{\pm}6.4%$ at 2 weeks, $88.6%{\pm}5.5%$ at 4 weeks) than in SA group ($49.7%{\pm}9.7%$ at 2 weeks, $47.3%{\pm}20.1%$ at 4 weeks) and CA group ($73.7%{\pm}12.4%$ at 2 weeks, $72.5%{\pm}10.9%$ at 4 weeks) with significances (P<0.05). The means of bone area showed significantly higher numbers in pH group ($39.5%{\pm}11.3%$ at 2 weeks, $71.9%{\pm}10.9%$ at 4 weeks, P<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that surface modification with pH buffering agent improved early osseointegration with superior biomechanical property.