In the present study, the effect of a dual treatment of titanium implants and the subsequent bone response after implantation were investigated. Coin-shaped c.p. titanium implants were placed into the tibias of 12 rabbits. The implant, which was dually blasted with TiO2 particles of two different sizes, was compared with implants that were blasted with only one of these particle sizes. Implants in group 1 were grit blasted with small particles, 22-28 microm in size, and group 2 with coarser particles, 180-220 microm size. These two treatments gave different surface micro textures. To test the effect of a combination of two different treatments, group 3 implants were blasted first with the 180- to 220-microm and subsequently with the 22- to 28-microm particles. The surface topography of the implant specimens was examined by scanning electron microscopy and by a confocal laser scanner and a numeric evaluation of S(a), S(t), and S(dr) was recorded. Group 2 implants, which were blasted with only the coarse particles, showed a significantly better functional attachment (p < 0.001) than the other two groups. Group 1, which was blasted with only small particles, showed the lowest retention in bone. There was a positive correlation between the topographical and mechanical evaluation of the surfaces.
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