Relationship between surface properties (roughness, wettability and morphology) of titanium and dental implant removal torque

Abstract

The biological properties of titanium depend on its surface oxide film. Several mechanical and chemical treatments have been used to modify the surface morphology and properties of titanium dental implants. One possible method of improving dental implant biocompatibility is to increase surface roughness and decrease the contact angle. In the present work, the biological properties of dental implants were investigated through in vivo and in vitro tests. The effects of surface roughness, contact angle and surface morphology on titanium dental implant removal torque were investigated. Machined dental implants and discs made with commercially pure titanium ASTM grade 4 were submitted to sandblasting treatments, acid etching and anodizing. The sample surface morphologies were characterized by SEM, the surface roughness parameters were quantified using a laser non-contact profilometer, and a contact angle measurement was taken. Dental implants were placed in the tibia of rabbits and removed 12 weeks after the surgery. It was found that: (i) acid etching homogenized the surface roughness parameters; (ii) the anodized surface presented the smallest contact angle; (iii) the in vivo test suggested that, in similar conditions, the surface treatment had a beneficial effect on the implant biocompatibility measured through removal torque; and (iv) the anodized dental implant presented the highest removal torque.

Titanium dental implant surfaces

“…The results of removal torque in this study agree with previous results of in vivo studies with Vulcano Actives ® in rabbits [10]. The removal torque of anodized dental implant is higher than for acid etched implants.…”

“…Previous studies have shown a surface enrichment of Ca and P and the presence of rutile and anatase in the anodized surface [10]. Li et al [11] observed that at low voltage the dominant TiO 2 phase is anatase.…”

“…Elias et al [10] analyzed different methods for increasing surface roughness and improving dental implant osseointegration. The morphologies of implant surfaces subjected to sandblasting, acid etching, laser treatment, and anodizing have been analyzed.…”

“…The healing time for dental implants without any surface treatment is longer than for implants with surface treatments. In order to reduce the mineralization time for implant osseointegration, surface treatments are performed to increase the implant surface cell adhesion and improve the osseointegration mechanisms [10]. The exact influence of chemical surface composition and morphology during the initial osseointegration stage is not well known.…”

Preparação e caracterização de um biocompósito obtido pela mistura de hidreto de titânio com nitrato de cálcio para implantes dentários

“…Essa rugosidade promove a osseocondução por meio da fixação de fibrinas e células osteogênicas resultando na formação de osso diretamente na superfície do implante [23]. Foi mostrado que o ângulo de contato de uma gota de água destilada depositada na superfície do titânio com esse tipo de tratamento fica entre 90 e 96 graus [24], aproximadamente uma dezena de graus a mais do que o biocompósito apresentado nesse trabalho. O ângulo de contato é inversamente proporcional à energia de superfície do titânio.…”