First titanium dental implants with white surfaces: Preparation and in vitro tests

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate first white titanium surfaces developed for improvement of existing clinically used titanium-based implants Ticer. MethodsThe anodic plasma-electrochemical oxidation in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide and calcium dihydrogen phospate was used to prepare three novel anodic conversion layers with white titanium oxide surfaces. The surfaces have been characterized by the means of scanning electron microscopy, surface microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. In vitro studies were conducted on primary human osteoblast cells using novel surfaces (M1–M3) as well as commercially pure titanium (Ti cp), Ticer and SS (subtracted surface). An indirect toxicity test using MTT and SRB assays has been carried out. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of cell proliferation, morphology, and expression of non-collagenous bone matrix proteins (sialoprotein, BSP, and osteocalcin, OC) were performed. ResultsThe basic morphology of the surfaces shows clusters in a size of 100μm of knob-like structures. The coatings are composed of rutile and monoclinic sodium titanates. Novel white surfaces (M1–M3) induced proliferation rates, morphological changes and influenced the expression of OC and BSP similarly to Ticer. On the other hand, Ti cp and SS exhibited different in vitro behavior. SignificanceThe novel surfaces expressed similar in vitro behavior as Ticer, successfully used in clinical practice. Furthermore, due to their white color they are also promising from the esthetic point of view. The results described herein open the door toward a new generation of white titanium dental implants.