Bone healing around titanium and titanium nitride-coated dental implants with three surfaces: an experimental study in rats.

BACKGROUND: Titanium nitride (TiN) has been used in many fields as a coating of surgical instruments, with the purpose of creating materials more resistant to wear and corrosion and also reducing adhesion. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of TiN-coated dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five rats were used in this study. One hundred eighty 2 mm x 2 mm implants (P.H.I. San Vittore Olona, Milano, Italy) were used. The implants were divided into the following three groups: Group 1 (n = 60): 30 machined and 30 machined coated with Group 2 (n = 60): 30 sandblasted and 30 sandblasted coated with Group 3 (n = 60): 30 titanium plasma sprayed, 30 titanium plasma sprayed and coated with TiN Four implants were placed in each rat, two implants coated with TiN on the right tibia and two uncoated implants on the left. The animals were killed after 5, 10, 20, 30, or 60 days. Another 18 implants were used for surface roughness analysis. RESULTS: The present study showed that the healing around the TiN-coated implants was similar to that observed around the uncoated surfaces. CONCLUSIONS: TiN coating demonstrated a good biocompatibility, did not have untoward effects on the periimplant bone formation, and did not change the surface roughness values.