Influence of Surface Nano-Roughness on Osseointegration of Zirconia Implants in Rabbit Femur Heads Using Selective Infiltration Etching Technique

(a) Anesthetized animal on operating table behind airflow barrier. (b) Preparation of implant site using sequential drills following exposure of femur head. (c) Insertion of titanium implant at the prepared implant site.

Figure 2. (a) Histometric analysis of bone density between and outside implant threads using a representative digital image of a titanium implant in host bone after 6 weeks of implantation, showing mature bone in direct contact with the implant surface (stained red), ×110. (b) Previous image after application of color contrast image analysis feature (mature bone in blue color). Figure 3. (a) Scanning electron microscopic micrograph of nano-porous surface of selective infiltration-etched zirconia implant, demonstrating intergrain surface porosity, ×15 000. (b) Scanning electron microscopic micrograph, demonstrating typical grain structure of as-sintered zirconia implants, ×10 000. Figure 4. Micrograph of selective infiltration-etched zirconia implant, after 4 weeks of implantation, showing newly formed bone in direct contact with the implant surface, (Stevenel's Blue and Van Gieson's stain ×220). Figure 5. Micrograph of selective infiltration-etched zirconia implant, after 6 weeks of implantation, showing mature mineralized lamellar bone formed directly on the implant surface, (Stevenel's Blue and Van Gieson's Stain ×220).