Scanning electron microscopical analysis of laser-treated titanium implant surfaces--a comparative study.

Design and surface qualities of titanium implants are of vital importance for long-term stability following implantation. Four different implant surfaces treated individually were analyzed with special attention focused on laser surface treatment. Surfaces with machine roughness, titanium spray coating, treated by aluminum oxide and treated by laser were examined individually. Evaluation of the surface was carried out by electron microscope examination and mechanical profilometry. The EDS analysis determined the degree of contamination of the implant surface. Electron microscope examination showed that the titanium plasma spray as well as the laser-treated implants have optimum surface qualities: a secondary and tertiary structure with micro-roughness of 10 mm and roughness ranging from 0.5 to 4 mm. The least contamination was found for machine rough surfaces as well as those treated by laser. The other implants showed contamination corresponding to the method of surface treatment. In summary the optimal surface structure with the least contamination was found for the laser-treated titanium surface. Similar surface purity was found for the machine rough surfaces. An optimal structure was also achieved by the titanium plasma spray method, however, at the cost of surface purity.