Optimization of the neck region of dental implants with a bioactive, resorbable coating

With the goal of shortening the postoperative healing phase and the minimization of the risk of peri-implantitis around dental implants, a polymer coating, with improved surface biocompatibility in the region of soft tissue penetration by the implant, was investigated. The polymer used was the relatively slowly resorbable poly-beta-hydroxybuterate (PHB) whose surface was further activated in a NH3--plasma. The influence of surface roughness of the substrate (commercially pure titanium) as well as the influence of the edge radii on the test samples was determined in prior studies. These studies formed the basis for an optimised coating process. In-vitro biocompatibility was determined using a human gingival primary cell culture. Surface morphology was determined with SEM and AFM to complement the cell culture studies.