To enhance their longevity dental implants must be highly biocompatible and must have a low elastic modulus close to that of the bone. They must also possess a high superficial hardness and a high corrosion resistance. For these reasons a recently developed low modulus Ti-27Nb alloy with non-toxic elements was treated by gas nitriding at high temperature in this study. A very thin nitrided layer of 0.5µm in thickness followed by an enriched nitrogen zone was observed. Consequently, a very high hardness evaluated at about 1800 HV was obtained in surface, which represents an increase of 4-5 times the hardness of the non nitrided alloy. This superficial hardness was experimentally observed to decrease up to 800 nm in depth from the surface to the core. The low modulus of Ti-27Nb (evaluated at 55 GPa, which is twice lower than the commercially pure titanium) was not affected by the surface nitriding treatment. A better corrosion resistance was observed as well as a significant decrease in ion release rates for the nitrided alloy (ion release of 1.41 ng/cm 2 compared to the 163.58 ng/cm 2 obtained for the commercially pure titanium at pH=7.48 in artificial Carter-Brugirard saliva). The cytocompatibility was not compromised and the cell viability performed on human osteoblasts, fibroblastic cells and epithelial cells was enhanced on the nitrided surface in comparison with the non-nitrided surface. These combined properties make the nitrided Ti-27Nb alloy a good candidate for dental implant applications.
Background and Objectives: This study reviewed the literature to summarize the current and recent knowledge of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Methods: Through a literature review, this work summarizes many concepts related to TMJOA. Results: Although many signaling pathways have been investigated, the etiopathogenesis of TMJOA remains unclear. Some clinical signs are suggestive of TMJOA; however, diagnosis is mainly based on radiological findings. Treatment options include noninvasive, minimally invasive, and surgical techniques. Several study models have been used in TMJOA studies because there is no gold standard model. Conclusion: More research is needed to develop curative treatments for TMJOA, which could be tested with reliable in vitro models, and to explore tissue engineering to regenerate damaged temporomandibular joints.
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