Comparative Study with SEM of the Hydroxyapatite microstructure

The field of oral and maxillofacial surgery shows variety of bone defects, caused by some conditions which constitute a problem when it is necessary to establish a restorative treatment plan. The development of implant treatment and the rise of prosthetic conservative treatment, has promoted the realization of numerous studies in the area of Bone Regeneration, focusing on the creation of new bone where needed. Based on the understanding of natural processes and mechanisms that regulate bone repair, there is growing interest in developing functional, smart, natural or synthetic Biomaterials, which interact with biological systems by treating, increasing or replacing lost tissue, they include Hydroxyapatite (Osteoconductive biomaterial). Objective: compare qualitatively with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the surface characteristics of two types thermally treated Hydroxyapatite (1350 ºC), a natural coral one (La Habana, Cuba) and one synthetic (Universidad Simón Bolívar). Methods: Samples were prepared by desiccation, shaded by ionization with Gold, for observation in SEM at various increases (106X to 800X). Results: It was observed that more homogeneous surface and lower porosity was shown by synthetic hydroxyapatite, compared with natural hydroxyapatite. Conclusions: Thermal treatment of the material improves its mechanical properties and its crystalline configuration surface structure. However, the features observed in the structure of natural hydroxyapatite, aimed to consider it as a biomaterial with better properties of osteoconductivity.