Lack of corundum, carbon residues and revealing gaps on dental implants

TL;DR

This study investigates the surface composition of Straumann dental implants, revealing nearly corundum-free surfaces with residual carbon, suggesting a modified manufacturing process that may have legal and safety implications.

Contribution

The paper provides new evidence of altered surface technology in Straumann implants, highlighting the absence of corundum residues and presence of carbon residues, which was not previously documented.

Findings

Surfaces are nearly corundum-free

Presence of disseminated gap-framed corundum particles

Significant molecular carbon residues detected

Abstract

Surface modification is an important topic to improve dental implants. Corundum residues, which are part of current dental implant blasting, disappeared on Straumann dental implants in recent publications. In our investigations of the surface of 4 different Straumann implants using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) we found the following three main findings: surfaces are nearly corundum-free, disseminated gap-framed corundum particles and significant molecular carbon residues. The data strongly suggest that Straumann applies a modified surface technology on dental implants to remove corundum residues and involving unclear carbons. One explanation could be, a Straumann patent involving a dextran coating allowing easy corundum particle removal by aqueous solution, while unintended molecular carbon residues cannot explain all findings. This change of the production process without a new approval by the FDA would be a violation of US federal law and the carbon bindings are a possible danger to patients.