Techniques for dental implant nanosurface modifications

PURPOSE: Dental implant has gained clinical success over last decade with the major drawback related to osseointegration as properties of metal (Titanium) are different from human bone. Currently implant procedures include endosseous type of dental implants with nanoscale surface characteristics. The objective of this review article is to summarize the role of nanotopography on titanium dental implant surfaces in order to improve osseointegration and various techniques that can generate nanoscale topographic features to titanium implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic electronic search of English language peer reviewed dental literature was performed for articles published between December 1987 to January 2012. Search was conducted in Medline, PubMed and Google scholar supplemented by hand searching of selected journals. 101 articles were assigned to full text analysis. Articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criterion. All articles were screened according to inclusion standard. 39 articles were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Out of 39 studies, seven studies demonstrated that bone implant contact increases with increase in surface roughness. Five studies showed comparative evaluation of techniques producing microtopography and nanotopography. Eight studies concluded that osteoblasts preferably adhere to nano structure as compared to smooth surface. Six studies illustrated that nanotopography modify implant surface and their properties. Thirteen studies described techniques to produce nano roughness. CONCLUSION: Modification of dental osseous implants at nanoscale level produced by various techniques can alter biological responses that may improve osseointegration and dental implant procedures.

Tissue engineering: an update

This article reviews the key developments in the tissue-engineering field over the past several years. Significant advances in tissue engineering have been made through improving singular aspects within the overall approach, that is, materials design, reactor design and cell source. Increasingly, however, advances are being made by combining several areas to create environments, which promote the development of new tissues whose properties more closely match their native counterparts. Progenitors and stem cells will play a critical role in understanding and developing new-engineered tissues as part of this approach. Although significant progress has been made in the tissue-engineering field, many challenges remain and further development in this area will require ongoing interactions and collaborations among the scientists from multiple disciplines