Background: Zirconia dental implants are a suitable alternative to titanium due to their high biocompatibility and favorable mechanical properties. However, their primary challenge is inferior osseointegration compared to other materials. Boron coating has emerged as a novel approach to enhance the surface properties of implants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of boron coating on the osseointegration of zirconia implants in an animal model.
Material and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 15 New Zealand rabbits. Zirconia implants were divided into two groups: control (uncoated) and experimental (boron-coated). The coating was applied using a thermochemical method and characterized by SEM and XRD. Implants were placed in the femur bone, and histological evaluation was performed after five weeks using SEM to measure bone-implant contact (BIC), osteocyte count, epithelial tissue integrity, and angiogenesis. Data were analyzed using SPSS software with t-tests and chi-square tests.
Results: In the boron-coated group, the mean BIC (60.92% vs. 30.98%, p=0.001), osteocyte count (631.95 vs. 319.45 cells/mm², p=0.001), epithelial tissue integrity (30% high vs. 53.3% low, p=0.005), and angiogenesis (50% high vs. 36.7% low, p=0.014) were significantly higher compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Boron coating on zirconia implants significantly improves osseointegration, which could be beneficial for patients with complex bone conditions. Further human clinical studies are recommended to confirm these findings.