Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and blood elements. Some of these are simply adaptive. Others are hazardous,
both in the short and long terms, to the survival of the living system. For
placed implants to exhibit biointegration to receiving hard tissue and biofunc-
tionality thereafter, there are at least three major required compatibilities. They
include biological compatibility, mechanical compatibility, and morphological
compatibility to receiving host tissues. In this chapter, these three compatibilities
will be reviewed and discussed. If any surface layer of implant systems possesses
all three required characteristics, expected outcome should be achieved with
so-called integrated implant system. For such systems, a gradient function concept
should be introduced, and surface layer should be fabricated with gradient func-
tional material system(s). This chapter proposes a novel, integrated implant
system.
5.2 INTRODUCTION
Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who
have lost a tooth (or teeth) due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other
reason. Dental implants—as an artifi cial tooth root and usually made from
commercially-pure titanium ASTM Grades 1 through 4 or Ti-based alloys—are
biocompatible metal anchors surgically positioned in the jaw bone (in other
words, surgically traumatized bone) underneath the gums to support an artifi cial
crown where natural teeth are missing. Using the root form implants, the closest
in shape and size to the natural tooth root, the non-union (due to tramatization)
bone healing period usually varies from as few as three months to six or more.
During this time, osseointegration occurs. The bone grows in and around the
implant, creating a strong structural support, to which a superstructure will be
later attached by either cemetation or a screw-tightening retaining technique.
Today, titanium and some of its alloys are considered to be among the most
biocompatible materials. Titanium's superiority is indicated by its preferential use
in many recent applications in maxillofacial, oral, neuro and cardiovascular-
surgery, as well as its increased preference in orthopedics. Moreover, titanium
and its alloys have been successfully used for orthopedic and dental implants.
Direct bony interface promised more predictability and longevity than previously
used systems; hence, oral implantology gained signifi cant additional momentum.
A carefully planned full rehabilitation of the mouth using state-of-the-art methods
can free the patient of dental problems for decades. However, this can only be
achieved with the complete cooperation of the patient, accompanied by regular
supervision and care by the dental surgeon and the dental hygienist.
According to Binon, there are about 25 dental implants manufacturing
companies, producing approximately 100 different titanium dental implant
systems with a variety of diameters, lengths, surfaces, platforms, interfaces, and
body designs. The most logical differentiation and distinctions are based on the
implant/abutment interface, the body shape, and the implant-to-bone surface
[Binon, 2000 ].
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