Surface Topography Characterization of Apatite Formation on Bioactive Glass Modified Dental Ceramics Using Confocal Laser Scanning CLSM) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM)

Abstract

Surface topography plays an important role in determining the functional performance of engineering materials as well as cell-material interactions. In this work is investigated the surface topography of an apatite layer that was developed on Bioglass® (PerioGlas® Synthetic Bone Graft Particulate, US Biomaterials)-modified dental ceramics, used in fixed prosthetic restorations, after immersion in a Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). The visualization of the surface morphology and structure and the gradual formation of the apatitic layer were followed by CLSM, as well as by ESEM and EDS. Topography profiles on specimens’ surface revealed high surface roughness and a fluctuation of RMS values in relation to immersion time in SBF, due to the continuing process of apatite precipitation.