# Tetracalcium Phosphate Graft for Implant Stabilization: Resonance Frequency and Histomorphometric Analysis in a Sheep Tibia Model

**Authors:** Dogac Mevlut Saltan, Nazlı Ayşeşek, Volkan Arısan, Selim Ersanlı

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/jfb17020069 · 2026-01-29

## TL;DR

This study shows that using tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) improves dental implant stability and bone integration in poor-quality bone, as tested in a sheep model.

## Contribution

The study introduces TTCP as a novel graft material that enhances implant stability and osseointegration in anatomically compromised bone.

## Key findings

- TTCP grafts significantly increased implant stability at Week 3 and Week 6 compared to other groups.
- Bone-to-implant contact improved over time in all groups, with no significant differences by Week 6.
- Resonance frequency analysis and histomorphometric data confirmed TTCP's effectiveness in compromised bone.

## Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) graft material on the stability and osseointegration of dental implants placed in anatomically compromised bone. Materials and Methods: Six healthy sheep were used following ethical approval. Osteotomies were created in the tibial region and divided into three groups: Group A (control, n = 12) with standard osteotomy; Group B (n = 12) with enlarged and deepened osteotomy; and Group C (n = 36), where osteotomy sites were filled with TTCP prior to implant placement. Implant stability was measured using the resonance frequency analysis (RFA), and osseointegration was evaluated histologically by bone-to-implant contact percentage (BIC%). Animals were sacrificed at the 3rd and 6th weeks for histological analysis. Results: Initial RFA values exceeded 42.5 in all groups. Group C demonstrated the highest RFA at Week 6 (79) and significantly higher RFA values at Week 3 compared to other groups, while Group B consistently showed the lowest stability. At Week 3, Group A exhibited the highest BIC% (28.04 ± 5.05%). By Week 6, BIC% increased in all groups, with no significant intergroup differences. Robust ANOVA revealed significant effects of time and group on both RFA and BIC%. Conclusions: TTCP significantly enhanced implant stability and osseointegration in compromised bone, providing improved secondary stability and suggesting its potential clinical benefit in challenging anatomical conditions.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** tetracalcium phosphate (PubChem CID 18676510)
- **Species:** Ovis aries (taxon 9940)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** atrophic ridges (MESH:D020966), injury to (MESH:D014947), TTCP (MESH:D007015), bone defects (MESH:D001847), infection (MESH:D007239)
- **Chemicals:** Toluidine blue (MESH:D014048), Calcium phosphate (MESH:C020243), isoflurane (MESH:D007530), beta-tricalcium phosphate (MESH:C485817), water (MESH:D014867), Xylazine (MESH:D014991), oxygen (MESH:D010100), metal (MESH:D008670), paraffin (MESH:D010232), povidone-iodine (MESH:D011206), formalin (MESH:D005557), alcohol (MESH:D000438), Vicryl (MESH:D011098), Prolene (MESH:D011126), Ketalar (MESH:D007649), phosphoserine (MESH:D010768), TTCP (MESH:C485830), hydrofluoric acid (MESH:D006858), hydroxyapatite (MESH:D017886), titanium (MESH:D014025), Melox (MESH:C044719), glycol methacrylate (MESH:C005044), octacalcium phosphate (MESH:C022045), Novosef (-)
- **Species:** Ovis aries (domestic sheep, species) [taxon 9940], Canis lupus familiaris (dog, subspecies) [taxon 9615], Bos taurus (bovine, species) [taxon 9913], Oryctolagus cuniculus (domestic rabbit, species) [taxon 9986], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116]

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942338/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942338