title: Implant surfaces.
abstract: Available in many shapes, sizes, and lengths, dental implants are also crafted from different materials with different surface proper-ties. Among the most desired characteristics of an implant are those that ensure that the tissue-implant interface will be established quickly and then will be firmly maintained. Because many variables affect oral implants, it is sometimes difficult to reliably predict the likelihood of an implant's success. It is especially difficult to assess whether the various modifications in the latest implants deliver improved performance. This article focuses primarily on important surface characteristics and their potential effects on the performance of dental implants.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomedical Engineering, 209 Wenner-Gren Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0070, USA. puleo@uky.edu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Puleo
authors.forename: Mark V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D006801:Humans; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials