Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous experiments demonstrate that zirconia ceramic has excellent biological features. However, the research regarding zirconia ceramic material made into abutments of dental implants in China, especially their biocompatibility, are poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility of zirconia ceramic as the abutments of dental implants.
METHODS: Zirconia ceramic round specimens were fixed in left buccal mucosal surface of Wistar rats, while the right with gutta-percha specimens as a control, two groups of specimens tightly attached to buccal mucosa without oppression. Gross observations and histological methods were applied to observe the biological response between oral mucosa and zirconia ceramic materials at 2 weeks after operation; zirconia ceramic rod specimens was implanted into dorsal subcutaneous tissue of Wistar rats, gross observation and histological methods were used to dynamically observe biological response between skin tissue and zirconia ceramic materials at 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks after implantation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After zirconia ceramic round specimens were fixed, no abnormal reactions of local tissue were observed in rat buccal mucosa, and there was no significant difference compared with the control group. At 1 week after zirconia ceramic rod specimens was implanted, local tissue was found to be slightly red and swollen, and the biopsies showed a few of inflammatory cells. 2-8 weeks later, redness and swelling had gone down, fibrous capsule was formed and became thinner gradually in tissue section. At 8 weeks, the capsule became dense fibrous with no inflammatory cells. There is a good biocompatibility between zirconia ceramic material and oral mucosa, skin or subcutaneous tissue.