Abstract
Introduction: Successful dental implantation relies on effective osseointegration, a process initiated by osteoblast adhesion, differentiation, and extracellular matrix mineralization at the implant surface. This study compared the in vitro osteoblast responses to titanium- and zirconia-based dental implants to assess their potential influence on cellular events associated with osseointegration.
Methods: Primary murine preosteoblasts were cultured in the presence of three commercially available implant types: grade 4 titanium (Ti), titanium–zirconium alloy (Ti/Zr), and zirconia (ZrO₂). Osteoblast adhesion, viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, extracellular collagen deposition, matrix mineralization, and cell morphology were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results: Osteoblast adhesion was significantly greater on ZrO₂ implants than on Ti or Ti/Zr implants, whereas cell viability and morphology were preserved in all groups. Exposure to ZrO₂ implants did not significantly affect ALP activity, collagen deposition, or extracellular matrix mineralization compared with control cultures. In contrast, Ti and Ti/Zr implants significantly reduced all the evaluated osteoblast differentiation markers. Integrated analysis of the biological parameters consistently showed that osteoblasts cultured in the presence of zirconia implants exhibited a cellular response more similar to that of control cultures than those exposed to titanium-based implants.
Conclusion: Under the experimental conditions of this in vitro study, zirconia implants promoted more favorable osteoblast responses than titanium-based implants. These findings suggest that zirconia surfaces may better support early cellular events involved in osseointegration.