Surface Analysis of Current Dental Implants: Microstructure and Composition

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Surface Analysis of Current Dental Implants: Microstructure and Composition
10 March 2005
S. KLEIN, and J.L. RICCI, New York University College of Dentistry, USA
IADR
Objective: Varied techniques have been used to produce surface microstructure, which plays an important role in osseointegration of dental implants. The purpose of this study was to compare the surface microstructure and composition of dental implants representative of current surface processing techniques.
Methods: Unused implants from seven different manufacturers were analyzed. They were representative of surfaces currently available. All implant surfaces were cleaned and dried using sonication in detergent, water, and acetone. After drying they were secured onto holders for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis in secondary electron imaging, backscattered electron imaging, and x-ray microprobe modes.
Results: All implants exhibited textured surfaces on the portion of the implant meant for osseointegration. Most implants showed surface microstructure in two overlapping size ranges, corresponding to the use of a combination of blast texturing and acid etching. Blast texturing produced surface dents and gouges up to 30¨µm in size. Acid etching superimposed smaller microstructural pits in the submicron to 2¨µm size range. One implant showed a heavily oxidized surface with unusual microstructural features up to 10¨µm in size. Another surface (laser microtextured) showed organized microstructure with features in the 8-12¨µm size range. Sizes of all microstructures were fairly similar across all of the implants and ranged from submicron to about 30¨µm. The compositions of all implants were similar in their use of either commercially pure titanium or a titanium alloy.
Conclusion: Surface blasting, acid etching, oxidation, and laser micromachining methods were observed to produce a variety of characteristic microstructures in the submicron to 30¨µm size range. Only the laser micromachined implants showed organized microstructure. All were clean of surface contaminants related to processing. While varied morphologies were observed on these implants, all showed surface microstructure in a narrow size range. This size has been shown to influence cell and protein interaction and osseointegration.