Dental implant materials. I. Some effects of preparative procedures on surface topography.

The effect of different treatments for preparing implant materials was examined by scanning electron microscopy and by contact angle measurements. The materials examined were Ti6A14V alloy, Co-Cr-Mo alloy, A12O3, and synthetic hydroxyapatite. Samples were prepared with solid or porous surfaces of these materials. These were detergent-cleaned and then either autoclaved (steam sterilization), radiation-sterilized, nitric acid-etched, or plasma-cleaned. The results of wettability studies indicated marked changes in surface energy corresponding to the different preparation methods, and differences in surface morphology were also observed. These differences could have significant consequences on in vivo implant behaviour as mediated by tissue-implant interactions.