Gradient Dental Implant Surface for Osseointegration and Biofilm Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Dental implants face challenges in minimizing peri-implant infections and biofilm formation, which can lead to complications such as peri-implantitis, due to microbial colonization and inflammation, despite existing surface modifications like TiUnite surfaces and electrochemical oxidation processes.

Innovation Solution

A dental implant with a surface layer comprising crystalline titanium oxide in the anatase phase, featuring a gradient in surface roughness and pore size from the coronal to the apical region, promoting osseointegration and reducing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, while allowing for easier cleaning and maintaining a strong soft tissue seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the implant surface is made smooth through machining to minimize bacterial adhesion, then biofilm formation is reduced, but soft tissue integration and sealing are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacterial adhesionVSAvoidsoft tissue seal

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant surface is divided into distinct functional zones: the coronal region maintains a smooth machined finish to resist bacterial adhesion, while the apical region features an anodized porous surface to enhance bone integration. This spatial differentiation of surface properties allows each zone to optimize for its specific biological function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The implant combines two different surface treatments in one structure: machined metal surfaces in the coronal region and anodized oxide layers in the apical region. This composite surface approach integrates the advantages of both smooth (bacteria-resistant) and porous (bone-integrating) surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the implant surface is made rough and porous to enhance osseointegration, then bone integration is improved, but bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveosseointegrationVSAvoidbiofilm formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant surface is divided into distinct functional zones: the coronal region maintains a smooth machined finish to resist bacterial adhesion, while the apical region features an anodized porous surface to enhance bone integration. This spatial differentiation of surface properties allows each zone to optimize for its specific biological function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The implant surface is segmented into different treatment regions along its length, with the coronal portion remaining smooth and the apical portion becoming increasingly porous through anodization. This segmentation allows different biological functions to be performed at different locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a uniform surface treatment is applied to the entire implant, then manufacturing is simplified, but functional performance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface treatment processVSAvoidoverall performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant surface is divided into distinct functional zones: the coronal region maintains a smooth machined finish to resist bacterial adhesion, while the apical region features an anodized porous surface to enhance bone integration. This spatial differentiation of surface properties allows each zone to optimize for its specific biological function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The surface treatment transitions dynamically along the implant length, with the anodization process creating a gradient from smooth at the coronal end to highly porous at the apical end. This dynamic variation in surface properties optimizes performance along the entire implant structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The implant achieves superior tissue integration, reduced risk of peri-implant infections, improved oral hygiene, and enhanced long-term survival rates by combining enhanced osseointegration with reduced biofilm formation and improved cleaning capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

promoting osseointegration and reducing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsseointegration:

Implementation Method 2

reducing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReduced bacterial adhesion:

Implementation Method 3

allowing for easier cleaning and maintaining a strong soft tissue seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImproved cleaning capabilities:

Implementation Method 4

the formation of a tight soft-tissue seal around the neck of the implant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSoft tissue seal formation:

Data Source

PatentUS11918434B2Dental implant

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 NOBEL BIOCARE SERVICES AG

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a dental implant configured to be inserted in a hole in jaw bone and to be at least partially situated in the bone tissue when implanted and includes: a coronal region, an apical region, a longitudinal axis extending from the coronal region of the dental implant to the apical region of the dental implant; an implant surface configured to form an interface between an implant material and the oral environment/surrounding tissue and a surface layer formed on at least part of the implant surface, the surface layer including crystalline titanium oxide in the anatase phase and wherein the surface area roughness Sa and the pore size of the implant surface on which said surface layer is formed increase from the coronal region toward the apical region of the dental implant along the longitudinal axis.