Evaluation of the surface characteristics of anodic oxidized miniscrews and their impact on biomechanical stability: An experimental study in beagle dogs

Introduction In this study, we aimed to assess the surface characteristics and the biomechanical stability of miniscrews with an anodic oxidized surface compared with machined surface miniscrews in beagle dogs. Methods Self-drilled, titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloy miniscrews with an anodic oxidized surface (n = 48) or a machined surface (n = 48) were placed into the mandibles of 12 beagle dogs. The surface characteristics of both types of miniscrews were analyzed before implantation with scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Insertion torque was measured during placement of all 96 miniscrews. Half of the implants in each group (24 specimens per subgroup) received 200 to 250 g of tensile force for 3-week or 12-week loading periods. Removal torque was measured in 12 specimens of each subgroup, and bone-implant contact and bone volume were quantified in the other 12 specimens of each subgroup. Results Atomic force microscopy measurements demonstrated that the anodic oxidized surface miniscrews had significantly higher roughness parameters than did the machined surface miniscrews (P < 0.001). The 2 types of miniscrews were not significantly different in insertion and removal torque values or in bone-implant contacts and bone volumes, regardless of the loading period. Conclusions Anodic oxidized miniscrews have different surface roughness profiles but no clinically significant superiority in biomechanical stability compared with machined surface miniscrews.