Influence of direct laser fabrication implant topography on type IV bone: A histomorphometric study in humans

The aim of this histologic study was to evaluate the influence of the direct laser fabrication (DFL) surface topography on bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC%), on bone density in the threaded area (BA%) as well as bone density outside the threaded area (BD%) in type IV bone after 8 weeks of unloaded healing. Thirty patients (mean age 51.34 ± 3.06 years) received 1 micro‐implant (2.5‐mm diameter and 6‐mm length) each during conventional implant surgery in the posterior maxilla. Thirty micro‐implants with three topographies were evaluated: 10 machined (cpTi); 10 sandblasted and acid etched surface (SAE) and 10 DFL micro‐implants. After 8 weeks, the micro‐implants and the surrounding tissue were removed and prepared for histomorphometric analysis. Four micro‐implants (2 cpTi, 1 SAE and 1DLF) showed no osseointegration after the healing period. Histometric evaluation indicated that the mean BIC% was higher for the DFL and SAE surfaces (p = 0.0002). The BA% was higher for the DFL surface, although there was no difference with the SAE surface. The BD% was similar for all topographies (p > 0.05). Data suggest that the DFL and SAE surfaces presented a higher bone‐to‐implant contact rate compared with cpTi surfaces under unloaded conditions, after a healing period of 8 weeks. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010