Nanometrical evaluation of Direct laser implant surface

The present study was designed to evaluate the characteristics and the topography of a new implant surface. Titanium discs were manufactured using master alloy powder (Ti-6Al-4V) with a particle size of 25-45 μm as the basic material (Leader Implants, Milan, Italy). We acquired images in three different dimensional ranges of decreasing dimensions: 30 (dimensional class A), 10 (dimensional class B), and 5 μm2 (dimensional class C). For each dimensional range, we collected five (dimensional classes A and B) to ten (dimensional classes C) different images, belonging both to the center and to the edge of the slide Results In dimensional class A, implant surface showed an average roughness value (Ra) of 0.6 μm, whereas the root mean square roughness (Rrms) value was 0.78 μm. In the dimensional class B, value of Ra was 133.4 μm and value of Rrms was 161.7 μm. Finally, at a smaller level as in dimensional class C, value of Ra was 68.5 μm and Rrms was 81.05 μm. Moreover, the peak to peak value was 369.5 μm and the average height value was 187.3 μm Discussion The surface which results from direct laser fabrication process has an ideal nano-roughness to enhance protein adsorption and to facilitate precursor osteoblast adhesion. In conclusion, direct laser forming surface seems to be a promising technique for forming dental implants from titanium alloys. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd