The Effects of Surface Roughening Techniques on Surface and Electrochemical Properties of Ti Implants

This chapter deals with the effect of commonly used surface roughening techniques for rapid osseointegration on surface and electrochemical properties of dental implants. Dental implants prepared by smooth machining (MAC), double acid etching (DAE), sandblasting and acid etching (SLA), Ti plasma spray (TPS) and anodization (ANO) were included, and their electrochemical properties were compared to untreated commercially pure titanium (cpTi). The treated surfaces demonstrated great differences in surface roughness, morphology, elemental composition and oxide type. Open circuit potential (OCP) and anodic scan potentiodynamic curves showed that electrochemical properties of treated surfaces are inferior to untreated cpTi in an original Ringer’s solution and a Ringer’s solution enriched with NaF except from the case of ANO where the electrochemical properties were enhanced. Galvanic action between dental implants and prosthetic superstructures and more importantly between the treated root and polished collar of dental implants is also discussed.