Effects of a modified sandblasting surface treatment on topographic and chemical properties of titanium surface

A modified sandblasting surface treatment (a noncoating, roughening surface modification of dental implants) has been developed that will overcome the defects of conventional coating techniques. To verify the feasibility and reliability of this method at the chemical and topographic levels, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and a titanium ion releasing test were used; the topography of titanium surface, the embedding of sandblasting particles, nonpollution of heteroelements, and anticorrosiveness of titanium were criteria. Results showed that the rough surface created by sandblast was rather irregular, full of sharp tips and many embedded sandblast particles, and its corrosive rate was increased. These characteristics were modified by oxalic acid attack; the contour of the rough surface became more regular and round, the embedded particles and the heteroelement pollution were thoroughly removed, and the Ti corrosive rate decreased dramatically. Oxalic acid attack modification also created numerous secondary micropores (2.0-micron diameter) on the basis of sandblasted surface macrotexture. This modified sandblasting surface treatment is feasible and reliable to apply to dental implants and does not decrease the biocompatibility of titanium.