Zirconium oxide coating improves implant osseointegration in vivo

Objectives Zirconium is widely used as material for prosthetic devices because of its good mechanical and chemical properties. When exposed to oxygen, zirconium becomes zirconium oxide (ZO, chemically ZrO2) which is biocompatible. ZO can be also prepared as a colloidal suspension and then used to coat surfaces. Zirconium oxide coating (ZOC) can potentially have specific biologic effects. Methods The effect of ZOC on bone throughout an in vivo study using dental implants covered with ZOC and then inserted in rabbit tibia was tested in this study. Results The histologic analysis demonstrated that (1) bone growth is more evident around ZOC fixtures than in controls and (2) a more mature bone is present in the peri-implant ZOC surface than in controls. Significance ZOC can enhance implant osseointegration.