Abstract

Dental implantation is the most reliable method for replacing missing teeth. success rate of dental implants is influenced by osseointegration. Surface roughness of implants influences osseointegration by altering surface area and texture, providing stimulation to cells. Sandblasting and acid etching are among common methods for making implant surfaces rough. The main goal of this study was to investigate effects of sandblasting and acid etching variables, i.e., blasting pressure and acid temperature, on surface roughness of dental implants to find the controlled values of these variables for a favorable surface roughness. An acceptable surface roughness was assumed to have an arithmetic average height (Sa) between 1-2 µm, and an area developed ratio (Sdr) greater than 50%. Seventy-two titanium made analogues were sandblasted with three different pressures, i.e., 4, 5, 6 MPa, and three different blasting time, i.e., 15, 30, 45 seconds, and then were acid etched with two different etching temperature, i.e., 60°C and 80°C, and two exposure time, i.e., 5- and 10-min (two repetition for each combination). Surface roughness parameters were then measured using a profilometer. Multi-factorial ANOVA was used as statistical analysis method. Results showed that fourteen groups demonstrated favorable Sa (1-2 µm), among which just four groups had acceptable Sdr (Sdr >50%). Among 4 parameters, stated above, which affect sand blasting and acid-etching processes, it was found that blasting duration is the most effective variable on implants roughness. This work highlights the importance of sandblasting and acid etching parameters for a controlled titanium dental implant surface, which can achieve surface roughness parameters that correspond to those previously reported in the literature as favorable ones for osseointegration. Key-words: Dental implants, surface roughness, sandblasting, acid etching, osseointegration, optimization, pressure, time, temperature