Histological evaluation of the peri-implant bone around plasma-sprayed non-submerged titanium implants retrieved from man: a report of two cases

Two cases of non-submerged implants are reported: one was removed, unloaded, after 1 year, for psychiatric reasons, and the other, after a loading period of 4 years, for a fracture of the implant. The implants and surrounding tissues were processed to obtain thin ground sections. In the first case compact lamellar bone was observed in close contact with the titanium all around the implant perimeter. No connective tissue or empty spaces were found at the bone-implant interface. Histochemical staining with von Kossa demonstrated that all the bone around the implant was highly mineralized. No areas of osteoid tissue were found at the bone-implant interface. In the implant retrieved due to fracture it was possible to observe a very high percentage of bone-implant contact.