Surface morphology and chemical composition analysis of titanium dental implants using SEM and EDX

The chemical content and surface morphology of titanium implants have a greater impact on the osseointegration characteristic of dental implants. Therefore this study was done to examine the surface morphology and chemical composition of commercially available titanium dental implants. (BioLine Dental Implants Series-single piece (A) and spiral implants (B)). The chemical composition was determined by the Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) method and the surface morphology was performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) method. The results for chemical composition of titanium implants using EDX method revealed that titanium (Ti) constitutes the major surface components on the plain and top land area of the single piece compressive implants which is 89.71 weight% and 71.55 weight % respectively. Iron (Fe)-66.60 weight % is considered as major element along with chromium (Cr)-18.34 weight %on the plain area of spiral implants and O (19.90 weight %) and Al (12.43 weight %) on the top land area of spiral implants. The surface morphology and impact of the manufacturing process on the implant surface using SEM method revealed that the similar surface irregularities with diameter ranging from 10 µm to 20 µm on the side view of the top land area and diameter of 10 µm on the side view of plain area for both the samples. Sample A showed some amorphous structures with grainy marks on the apical view whereas Sample B showed heavy grinding and shear marks on the apical view at diameter ranging from 10 µm to 20µm.