Osseointegration of Zirconia in the Presence of Multinucleated Giant Cells

Background Current strategies to reduce medical device‐associated infections propose zirconia as a potential implant material which may limit bacterial adhesion. Because multinucleated giant cells ( MNGCs ) have been detected on these implant surfaces, concerns have been raised regarding tissue integration. Purpose The present study examined the presence of MNGCs and their subsequent effect upon tissue integration. Surface‐modified implants made of yttria‐stabilized ( TZP ) and alumina‐toughened zirconia ( ATZ ) were compared with commercially pure titanium ( T i). Materials and Methods Seven miniature pigs received three implants on either side of the maxilla. After healing periods of 4 and 8 weeks, the tissue response at the implant surfaces was characterized according to three specific parameters: bone‐to‐implant contact ( BIC ), MNGC ‐to‐implant contact ( MIC ), and the peri‐implant bone density ( BD ). Results Despite being present on all tested implant surfaces, MNGCs were not associated with an inflammatory cell infiltrate or with fibrous encapsulation. MNGCs were less numerous on the T i implants (range: 3.9–5.2%) compared with the ceramic implants (range: 17.6–30.3%, p  < .0001). Even though the values of newly formed bone and pristine bone in direct contact with the implant surfaces were high at 4 weeks ( tBIC : T i = 82.3%, TZP  = 64.3%, ATZ  = 70%), a negative correlation was observed between the presence of MNGCs and newly formed bone at the implant surface ( p  < .001). Interestingly, the newly formed peri‐implant bone density, defined as the percentage of new bone area inside the screw threads ( nBD ), was not diminished by the presence of MNGCs . Conclusions Differences in the presence of MNGCs and the BIC parameters between T i and the ceramic implants appear to be a local cellular phenomenon which is restricted to the implant‐bone marrow interface and do not affect the peri‐implant bone formation. Factors triggering MNGC differentiation and their persistence in response to biomaterial surface need to be investigated in future studies.