title: Three-dimensional and chemical changes on the surface of a 3-year clinically retrieved oxidized titanium dental implant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the main topographical features in the micro- and nano-scales and to assess implant chemical changes of the surface of a 3-year clinically retrieved oxidized titanium dental implant, and compare them with a similar, unused implant.
  
  
  METHODS
  The surface of the oxidized titanium dental implants was assessed by surface electron microscopy (SEM) analysis at increasing magnifications. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement was performed to analyze the implants surface chemistry. XPS spectra were acquired before and after sputtering with an Ar(+) ion etching of 3keV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a length of 10-40μm, and a width of 0.05-0.1μm, numerous cracks were ubiquitous along the implant surfaces. Chimney-like structures formed micropores between 1 and 5μm, with up to 40% of them partially or totally broken in the retrieved implant. In relation to chemical composition, Ti and O were predominant in both the unused and in the retrieved implant. N was present in high concentrations (11.49at%) at the retrieved implant surface, in contrast with those observed for the unused implant (1.14at%). Also, C was present in higher concentrations in the retrieved implant surface, while drastically decreased following the sputter-cleaning process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While cracks were ubiquitous present from the manufacturing, broken chimney-like structures forming micropores in the clinically retrieved implant may be attributable to excessive mechanical friction forces during the insertion of the implant. Chemical composition of the implant surface may be subjected to changes because of the in vivo environment, with increase of N and C, and decrease of Ca and P.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain; FEDICOM, Foundation for the Study and Development in Implantology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Badajoz, Spain. Electronic address: raulmaxilo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; FEDICOM, Foundation for the Study and Development in Implantology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monje
authors.affiliation: Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Badajoz, Spain; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Extremadura (UEx), Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: María Coronada
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fernández-Calderón
authors.affiliation: Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Badajoz, Spain; Department of Applied Physics, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hierro-Oliva
authors.affiliation: Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Badajoz, Spain; Department of Applied Physics, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: González-Martín
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain; FEDICOM, Foundation for the Study and Development in Implantology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Badajoz, Spain; CICOM, Centre for Implantology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Florencio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monje
mesh_terms: D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D014025:Titanium
keywords: 3-D structure; Implant surface; Oxidized titanium dental implant; SEM; Scanning electron microscopy; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; XPS