Composite titanium dental implant fabricated by electro-discharge compaction.

An electro-discharge compaction (EDC) fabrication window was established for producing commercially pure porous titanium dental implants of 4 mm diameter and 7 mm length with a solid titanium cap. The optimum input energy was in the range of 0.58-0.87 kJ g-1 for a powder column of 0.500 g. Input energy greater than 0.58 kJ g-1 resulted in an implant torque strength exceeding 30 N-cm (the retaining screw tightening torque), while input energy greater than 0.72 kJ g-1 exceeded 46.7 N-cm torque strength (at this level the retaining screw failed prior to the implant). The integrity of the internally threaded hole and hexagonal head of the cap were maintained throughout the EDC process. The EDC process did not after the strength and/or microstructure of the components, and the bead-cap interface was stronger than the bead-bead interface. EDC implants produced within the aforementioned window have sufficient compressive strengths and other physical properties to meet the requirement for titanium dental implants.