Background: The preclinical study presented here compared crestal bone loss between titanium implants with a conventional etched surface (SLA type) and others coated with chitosan, after 12 weeks of immediate implantation in the mandible of a canine model.
Material and methods: Forty-eight implants (24 experimental and 24 control) of Ti-Al16-V4 with an internally connected tapered screw design were randomly inserted into six maxillary canines, four per hemiarch. The experimental implants were coated with Chitosan by immersion and sterilization with ethylene oxide. Primary stability was measured using the Osstell® device. No grafting materials were used, and three-dimensional micro-CT measurements included crestal bone volume (CBV) and bone volume change in crestal area (∆CBV), which were considered outcome measures. Parallelized periapical radiographs were also taken at the time of implant placement and after 12 weeks to assess changes in crestal bone levels.
Results: In terms of volumetric changes, it was observed, that the experimental group showed better results than the control group (p=0.049 and p=0.303, respectively). Regarding the implantation sites, no significant differences were found between the experimental implants and the control group, only the implants placed at P4 level in the experimental group obtained the best result (p=0.041). The linear data obtained from the periapical radiographs indicated greater bone loss in the control group compared to the experimental group (3.2±0.45 and 2.75±0.55 mm, respectively).
Conclusions: Despite the better results obtained for the chitosan-coated surface group, further preclinical studies would be necessary to confirm our results.