Zirconia with laser-modified microgrooved surface vs. titanium implants covered with melatonin stimulates bone formation. Experimental study in tibia rabbits

The aim of the study was to evaluate if zirconia implants with micro-grooved surfaces supplemented with melatonin enhance the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) vs. titanium implants with the same coating. Materials and methods: Eighty implants divided in four groups were inserted in the tibia of 20 New Zealand rabbits as follows: (group A) 20 titanium implants; (group B) 20 micro-grooved zirconia implants; (group C) 20 titanium implants supplemented with melatonin and (group D) 20 micro-grooved zirconia implants supplemented with melatonin. Histometric and SEM evaluation of BIC were evaluated after 1 and 4 weeks. Results: At 1 week, group C (29.7 ± 2.4%) and group D (28.9 ± 1.3%) implants showed higher BIC% compared with group A and B (P < 0.05). After 4 weeks, group D showed higher BIC compared with all the groups (47.5 ± 2.2%) (P < 0.05). Also Connective tissue was higher in groups B (78.9 ± 2.1%) and D (88.7 ± 1.2%) related to titanium and zirconia melatonin untreated at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this pilot study in rabbits, we can conclude that the local application of melatonin increases the BIC values in titanium and in zirconia implants at 1 week.