Biocompatibility of nickel-base dental alloys.

Four commercial nickel-base alloys were implanted in rabbit muscle for periods of 2 to 54 weeks. Biocompatibility and tissue reaction was assessed by histological and histochemical techniques. Results were compared with control implants of AISI Type 316L stainless steel. A prominent and constant feature associated with implanted nickel-base alloys was the histological appearance of adipose tissue surrounding the implant.