Anatase Forming Treatment without Surface Morphological Alteration of Dental Implant

Surface-Mediated Modulation of Different Biological Responses on Anatase-Coated Titanium

Various surface modification strategies are being developed to endow dental titanium implant surfaces with micro- and nano-structures to improve their biocompatibility, and first of all their osseointegration. These modifications have the potential to address clinical concerns by stimulating different biological processes. This study aims to evaluate the biological responses of ananatase-modified blasted/etched titanium (SLA-anatase) surfaces compared to blasted/acid etched (SLA) and machined titanium surfaces. Using unipolar pulsed direct current (DC) sputtering, a nanocrystalline anatase layer was fabricated. In vitro experiments have shown that SLA-anatase discs can effectively promote osteoblast adhesion and proliferation, which are regarded as important features of a successful dental implant with bone contact. Furthermore, anatase surface modification has been shown to partially enhance osteoblast mineralization in vitro, while not significantly affecting bacterial colonization. Consequently, the recently created anatase coating holds significant potential as a promising candidate for future advancements in dental implant surface modification for improving the initial stages of osseointegration.

Conometric Connection for Implant-Supported Crowns: A Prospective Clinical Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Traditional screw or cemented connections in dental implants present limitations, prompting the exploration of alternative methods. This study assesses the clinical outcomes of single crowns and fixed partial prostheses supported by conometric connections after one year of follow-up.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients received 70 implants, supporting 33 rehabilitations. Biological responses and prosthodontic complications were evaluated at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

RESULTS

All implants exhibited successful osseointegration, with no losses or peri-implant inflammation. Marginal bone levels showed minimal changes, well below pathological thresholds. The difference in marginal bone loss (MBL) was -0.27 ± 0.79 mm between T0 and T1, and -0.51 ± 0.93 mm between T0 and T2. No abutment screw loosening or crown chipping occurred. However, coupling stability loss was observed in nine cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The conometric connection demonstrated successful integration and minimal complications after one year. This alternative shows promise, particularly in simplifying handling and improving marginal adaptation. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up is warranted for comprehensive validation.

TiO2 Nanocoatings with Controllable Crystal Type and Nanoscale Topography on Zirconia Implants to Accelerate Bone Formation

In dentistry, zirconia implants have emerged as a promising alternative for replacing missing teeth due to their superior aesthetic performance and chemical stability. To improve the osseointegration of zirconia implants, modifying their surface with hierarchical micro/nanotopography and bioactive chemical composition are two effective ways. In this work, a microscale topography was prepared on a zirconia surface using hydrofluoric acid etching, and then a 50 nm TiO₂ nanocoating was deposited via atomic layer deposition (ALD). Subsequently, an annealing treatment was used to transform the TiO₂ from amorphous to anatase and simultaneously generate nanoscale topography. Various investigations into the coating surface morphology, topography, wettability, and chemical composition were carried out using scanning electron microscopy, white light interferometry, contact-angle measurement, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In addition, in vitro cytocompatibility and osteogenic potential performance of the coatings were evaluated by human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), and in vivo osseointegration performance was assessed in a rat femoral condyle model. Moreover, the possible mechanism was also investigated. The deposition of TiO₂ film with/without annealing treatment did not alter the microscale roughness of the zirconia surface, whereas the nanotopography changed significantly after annealing. The in vitro studies revealed that the anatase TiO₂ coating with regular wavelike nanostructure could promote the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts and further improve the osteogenic potential in vitro and osseointegration in vivo. These positive effects may be caused by nanoscale topography via the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The results suggest that using ALD in combination with annealing treatment to fabricate a nanotopographic TiO₂ coating is a promising way to improve the osteogenic properties of zirconia implants.

Biochemical Modification of Titanium Oral Implants: Evidence from In Vivo Studies

The discovery of osseointegration of titanium implants revolutionized the dental prosthesis field. Traditionally, implants have a surface that is processed by additive or subtractive techniques, which have positive effects on the osseointegration process by altering the topography. In the last decade, innovative implant surfaces have been developed, on which biologically active molecules have been immobilized with the aim of increasing stimulation at the implant-biological tissue interface, thus favoring the quality of osseointegration. Among these molecules, some are normally present in the human body, and the techniques for the immobilization of these molecules on the implant surface have been called Biochemical Modification of Titanium Surfaces (BMTiS). Different techniques have been described in order to immobilize those biomolecules on titanium implant surfaces. The aim of the present paper is to present evidence, available from in vivo studies, about the effects of biochemical modification of titanium oral implants on osseointegration.

The Impact of Nandrolone Decanoate in the Osseointegration of Dental Implants in a Rabbit Model: Histological and Micro-Radiographic Results

Despite high rates of osseointegration in healthy patients, complex cases present an increased risk of osseointegration failure when treated with dental implants. Furthermore, if immediate loading of the implants is used, maximizing the response of the host organism would be desirable. Anabolic steroids, such as Nandrolone Decanoate (ND), are reported to have beneficial clinical effects on various bone issues such as osteoporosis and bone fractures. However, their beneficial effects in promoting osseointegration in dental implant placement have not been documented. The study aimed to examine histological changes induced by ND in experimental dental implants in rabbit models. Two dental implants were placed in the tibias of 24 adult rabbits. Rabbits were allocated to one of two groups: control group or test group. Rabbits in the latter group were given nandrolone decanoate (15 mg/kg, immediately after implant placement and after 1 week). Micro-radiographic and histological analyses were assessed to characterize the morphological changes promoted by the nandrolone decanoate use. Total bone volume and fluorescence were significantly higher in the control group after 2 weeks. Such a difference between the two groups might indicate that, initially, nandrolone lengthens the non-specific healing period characteristic of all bone surgeries. However, after the beginning of the reparative processes, the quantity of newly formed bone appears to be significantly higher, indicating a positive stimulation of the androgen molecule on bone metabolism. Based on micro-radiology and fluorescence microscopy, nandrolone decanoate influenced bone regeneration in the implant site. The anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate affects the healing processes of the peri-implant bone and therefore has the potential to improve the outcomes of implant treatment in medically complex patients.