Histologic evaluation of a human immediately loaded titanium implant with a porous anodized surface

BACKGROUND: Several researchers have demonstrated, in the past decade, in clinical and histologic studies, that immediate loading can be successfully used in implant dentistry. Many factors are thought to be of importance in obtaining mineralized tissues at the interface. One of these factors is the implant surface characteristics. Recently, an implant with a new porous anodized surface has been introduced in the market. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to histologically evaluate a clinically retrieved immediately loaded implant with a porous anodized surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a 6-month loading period, an immediately loaded implant with a porous anodized surface that had been inserted in the posterior maxilla was retrieved. RESULTS: Histology showed that mineralized tissue was present at the interface and the bone-implant contact percentage was about 60%. No gaps or fibrous tissue or inflammatory infiltrate were present at the interface. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that immediate loading of dental implants has no untoward effects on the formation of mineralized tissues at the interface. Immediate loading is a possible alternative in implant dentistry. key words: dental implants, histology, immediate loading, oxide coating, porous surface.