Influence on bone-to-implant contact of non-thermal low-pressure argon plasma: An experimental study in rats

Roughness characteristics play an essential role in osseointegration. However, there is a concern about the susceptibility of those surfaces to bacterial colonization. New techniques for cleaning and surface treatment have appeared that could favor osseointegration without the need to create surfaces as rough. Such is the case of non-thermal low-pressure argon plasma (NTLP-ArP). One hundred and forty-four implants were placed in the tibiae of 36 Sprague Dawley rats, distributed in four experimental groups: I: mechanized surface; II: mechanized surface treated with NTLP-ArP, III: resorbable blast media (RBM) surface; and IV: RBM surface treated with (NTLP-ArP). Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) percentages were calculated by microtomographic evaluation and histological analysis at one, two, and four weeks after implant placement. ANOVA and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analysis, establishing p < 0.05. No significant differences were found at one-week comparisons. The groups treated with NTLP-ArP obtained higher BIC% than those not treated at two and four weeks. Mechanized surfaces treated with NTLP-ArP obtained BIC values similar to RBM surfaces.