Anodic Titanium Oxide Pores for Dental Implant Infection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental implants face challenges in minimizing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on soft tissue surfaces, leading to peri-implant infections, while maintaining optimal soft tissue integration and oral hygiene, and existing surface treatments do not adequately prevent microbial colonization and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a surface composition comprising titanium oxide in the anatase crystalline phase with a porous structure, where at least 90% of pores have an orifice with a mean inside diagonal distance of less than 0.1 µm, combined with a mean roughness value of below 0.3 µm, achieved through an anodic oxidation process, which inhibits bacterial colonization and enhances soft tissue integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the surface is made smooth with machined structures in the sub- or low micrometer range to minimize bacterial adhesion, then bacterial growth is limited and soft tissue integration is good, but peri-implant infections still occur in a few percent of patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a porous titanium oxide layer with controlled pore sizes (0.5-2 µm) on the implant surface. This porous structure provides physical barriers that prevent bacterial colonization while maintaining smooth macroscopic surfaces for soft tissue integration. The porous morphology creates an environment unfavorable for bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, thereby reducing infection risk without compromising tissue integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surface structure consisting of a metallic substrate (titanium or titanium alloy) combined with a titanium oxide layer having specific crystalline phases (anatase and/or rutile). This composite material structure combines the mechanical properties of the metal with the biocompatible and antibacterial properties of the oxide layer, achieving both soft tissue integration and infection prevention.
2Reliability
If anodic oxidation is used to create a porous titanium oxide surface to prevent bacterial colonization, then bacterial growth is reduced, but the surface roughness increases which may affect soft tissue integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a porous structure at the nanometer to micrometer scale while maintaining a smooth macroscopic surface profile. The porous titanium oxide layer has controlled pore sizes (0.5-2 µm) that provide antibacterial properties, while the overall surface roughness is kept within ranges suitable for soft tissue integration. This local differentiation of surface properties at different scales resolves the contradiction between infection resistance and tissue integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the anodization parameters (voltage, time, electrolyte composition) to achieve specific pore sizes and oxide layer thicknesses. By adjusting these parameters, the surface morphology is optimized to have porous structures at the micro/nano scale for antibacterial effects while maintaining appropriate roughness at the macro scale for soft tissue integration. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between the two requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This surface composition significantly reduces bacterial growth and biofilm formation, thereby minimizing the risk of peri-implant infections and ensuring long-term implant survival by maintaining the structural integrity of the machined surface topography while promoting tissue integration.
Implementation Method 1
a surface composition obtainable through an anodic oxidation process
Implementation Method 2
anodic oxidation process, which inhibits bacterial colonization
Implementation Method 3
said surface composition has a porous structure where at least 90% of the pores have an orifice with a mean inside diagonal distance of less than 0,1 µm
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~4B
AI summary
An implant structure or parts thereof having a surface composition obtainable through an anodic oxidation process is disclosed. The surface composition comprising titanium oxide in the anatase crystalline phase and at least 90% of the pores have an orifice with a mean inside diagonal distance of less than 0,1 μm. It is also disclosed an implant system comprising said surface composition and a method of obtaining said surface.