Two-Part Implant with a Hydroxylated Soft Tissue Contact Surface

Abstract

Two-part implant for attachment of artificial teeth comprising a base body having a bone contact surface and a soft tissue contact surface. Said soft tissue contact surface is at least partially hydroxylated or silanated which results in an improved soft tissue integration.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates to a two-stage implant comprising a base body having a bone contact surface and a tissue contact surface and to a method for preparing such an implant.BACKGROUND [0002]Implants which are used for insertion into bone, for example for attachment of artificial teeth, are known per se. Different types of implant systems are known, for example two-part implant systems. Said two-part implant systems comprise first an anchoring part for anchoring within the bone and second a mounting part. Onto the mounting part prosthesis elements, such as bridges or crowns, are screwed or cemented usually using intermediate so-called abutments.[0003]A central property of said implants is their osteointegration time, that is to say the time that passes before the bone substance has become connected with sufficient strength and permanently to the bone contact surface, that is to say it has become integrated with it.[0004]Therefore, much effort has ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the soft tissue contact surface is completely hydroxylated. Such an implant showed good results in vivo and said implants are economically interesting and can be produced in a controlled process. In addition it has been shown that with the implants according to the present invention the healing process is improved, that is a good osteointegration as well as an excellent soft tissue integration is achieved. Therefore, the implants comprise a reduced risk of periimplantitis and as a consequence fewer implants will have to be replaced. Due to their purity, meaning that the soft tissue contact surface is free of organic compounds, the surface charge is better available. Therefore, the surface is hydrophilic, which results in an improved soft tissue integration. Therefore, they do not bear the risk of autoimmune reactions and other unwanted side effects.

[0016]In a further embodiment of the present invention the soft tissue contact surface is roughened and hydroxylated. A roughened surface in terms of the present invention means a macroscopic texture of the surface which is obtained for example by sandblasting the soft tissue contact surface. It has been found that if the soft tissue contact surface is roughened and hydroxylated the blood coagulum is stabilized which accelerates the healing procedure.

[0017]In a further embodiment of the present invention the soft tissue contact surface is smooth but hydroxylated. A smooth surface in terms of the present invention means a macroscopic texture of the surface which is obtained for example by machining or additional polishing, preferably by electropolishing the soft tissue contact surface. With a smooth surface the accumulation of plaque can be prevented or at least minimized, and such a soft tissue contact surface has outstanding wettability properties which is highly preferred.

[0018]In a further embodiment of the present invention the bone contact surface and the soft tissue surface of the implant are both roughened, hydroxylated and hydrophilic or alternatively both smooth, hydroxylated and hydrophilic. Such implants are particularly easy to produce since the entire implant can be treated in the same way. This is a very big advantage and is based on the surprising finding that a hydroxylated, hydrophilic and roughened soft tissue surface of the implant shows improved soft tissue integration.

[0019]In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the soft tissue contact surface is hydrophilic. In terms of the present invention, the soft tissue contact surface is referred to as “hydrophilic” if it is freely accessible to the body fluid and not covered with foreign substances, for example substances with a hydrophobic action. Various volatile hydrocarbons are conventionally present in non-purified air. These are rapidly adsorbed in a thin layer by hydroxylated and hydrophilic surfaces, whereby such surfaces are no longer hydrophilic. Likewise, such a hydroxylated and hydrophilic surface can become hydrophobic if the hydroxyl groups present on the surface associate or react chemically e.g. with carbon dioxide present in the air or with organic solvents, such as methanol or acetone, introduced via the cleaning process. The hydrophilic properties of the soft tissue contact surface may result in a higher wettability when compared to an untreated soft tissue contact surface, which promotes formation of the soft tissue. Further, the charge on the surface is better available which may accelerate the formation of soft tissue attachment as well.

[0034]These methods are known to those skilled in the art and are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,351. The hydroxylated soft tissue contact surface of the implant is after such a treatment free of organic debris and has increased wettability. As a result, the implant becomes more intimately involved with the surrounding bone and tissue structure.

Problems solved by technology

Indeed, the presence of bacteria on the implant surface may lead to an inflammation of the peri-implant mucosa, and, if left untreated, the inflammation spreads apically and results in bone resorption.

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