The surface of dental implants determines the initial phases of the biological response to the implant and affects its ability to integrate into the surrounding tissue. In four consecutive studies since 2007 more than 300 different, sterile-packaged dental implants were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis (EDS).
Nearly 50% of all analyzed implants showed a wide variety of organic and/or inorganic impurities containing iron, copper, tin, chromium, tungsten, antimony, and nickel. Additional Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis revealed polysiloxanes, polyethylene and even hazardous surfactants on sterile dental
implants.
The lecture not only illustrates the proportions in the clinical context of peri-implantitis but also separates the wheat from the chaff. Participants will receive clear information about the differences in quality that highlights the need of a new standard of purity for dental implants.