0000000000621525
AUTHOR
Jörg Meyle
Surface roughness, porosity, and texture as modifiers of cellular adhesion.
Substrate topography in the micrometer range is reviewed as a modifier of the response of cultured cells and of biocompatibility when implanted into tissues. Characterization methods for substrate topography are discussed, including scanning electron microscopy, profilometry, laser scanning, and confocal microscopy. Because of the current technical limitations in reproducing micron-level topographic details, only one method, ion-beam etching, has been found suitable for texturing substrates on nonplanar surfaces.
Effects of various hygiene procedures on the surface characteristics of titanium abutments.
The use of cleaning instruments on titanium implants may cause undesired surface alterations. In a qualitative and quantitative assessment of these alterations, 5 titanium implant abutments were treated with a steel curet, a prototype pure titanium curet, an air abrasive polishing system, and an ultrasonic system. Custom-made polymer templates, used to secure the curet to a vertical guide bar and a spring scale to maintain a constant instrument pressure, guaranteed a standardized procedure and reproducible results. The ultrasonic and the air abrasive polishing method were also standardized. Evaluation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed surface alterations for all instruments and…