Implant Surface Micro-Design
The application of implants for dental and orthopedic surgery has increased rapidly within the past few decades. In craniomaxillofacial surgery, different implant systems have been applied, for example, for dental and bone replacement or osteosynthesis plates and screws. These implants may be made of pure titanium or a titanium alloy, usually titaniumaluminum- vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V). The surface can he turned or Machined or a coating may cover the metal base. The reason for treating the implant surface is to obtain maximum boneimplant contact and bone-implant stability and to shorten the healing time for earlier loading. The crucial aspect of pure titanium implants is the development of titanium oxide on the surface. This oxide and other known coatings for implant material do not have high wear resistance. This article thus aims to review Implant Surface Micro-design its rationale, various surface’s physical and chemical properties, different types of implant surface treatments, optimum roughness of oxidized implants and controversies associated with various implant topographies. The recent advances like nanotechnology are also included.
