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Screw-shaped implants of commercially pure (c.p.) titanium, c.p. niobium, c.p. zirconium, and stainless(Sus 304) were inserted in the rabbit tibial over 12 weeks of follow-up. New developed torque gauge instrument was used to evaluate the implant holding power and a image analysis program coupled to a microscope was used for histomorphometry. The three best consecutive threads of each implant were measured. Quantitative analyses at 12 weeks revealed a partial bone contact to the four kinds investigated metals. There were no obvious adverse tissue reactions to any of the biomaterials. At 12 weeks the average removal torques for titanium, niobium and zirconium were better than that needed for Sus 304 screws, on the other hand high score of bony contact ratio of titanium and niobium were showed in comparison to those of zirconium and Sus 304. There was no significant differences in the amount of interfacial bone of zirconium and Sus 304 whereas there was significant differences in the torque forces of niobium and Sus 304. Three months after implant insertion, the average removal torque was 6.64 Ncm for the titanium, 6.57 Ncm for the niobium, 6.38 Ncm for the zirconium, and 4.25 Ncm for the Sus 304. On average bone contacts there were 51.24% in the titanium, 48.19% in the niobium, 31.79% in the zirconium, 23.54% in Sus 304. Biocompatibility of the titanium, niobium and zirconium was acceptable level in comparison to the Sus 304.
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