Single crystal alumina for dental implants and bone screws.

When ground to a suitable form, flexural strength of single crystal alumina (Al2O3) decreases to as low as one third the strength of the intact crystal. This flexural strength decrease is, however, recovered by chemical etching at a high temperature to eliminate surface defects caused by grinding. By using this strength recovery treatment, various types of single crystal implants with fine structure were able to be designed. Four kinds of single crystal bone screws and single crystal dental implants of screw and anchor type were designed. Flexural strength and impact strength of the implants were measured.