Surface Modification of Ti Dental Implants by Grit-Blasting and Micro-Arc Oxidation

Abstract

The osseointegration capability of titanium dental implants is related to their chemical composition and surface roughness. In this study, the combination of grit-blasting and micro-arc oxidation had been used for producing the improved implant surfaces. The ceramic particles were projected to titanium dental implants through a nozzle at high velocity by means of compressed air to get high surface roughness. Then the surface of titanium implants was modified by micro-arc oxidation treatment. The current density, frequency and duty were 50-300 mA/cm2, 100 Hz, and 50%, respectively. A porous TiO2 layer was formed on the surface after the oxidation treatment. The surface structure of oxidized implants exhibited nanometer-sized pores with an average diameter of 0.2 µm. The TiO2 passive layer of the implant surface can attribute to the excellent biocompatibility. The high roughness (Ra=0.182 µm) formed by grit-blasting maximizes the interlocking between mineralized bone and the surface of the implant. Surface roughness in the manometer range formed by micro-arc oxidation treatment would play an important role in the adsorption of proteins, adhesion of osteoblastic cell and thus the rate of osseointegration.