The technology used to replace lost teeth with titanium dental
implants could be improved. By studying the surface structure of
dental implants not only at micro level but also at nano level,
researchers at the University of Gothenburg; Sweden, have come
up with a method that could shorten the healing time for
patients. "Increasing the active surface at nano level and
changing the conductivity of the implant allows us to affect the
body's own biomechanics and speed up the healing of the
implant," says Johanna Löberg at the University of Gothenburg's
Department of Chemistry. "This would reduce the discomfort for
patients and makes for a better quality of life during the
healing process." Dental implants have been used to replace lost
teeth for more than 40 years now. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, who was
recently awarded the prestigious European Inventor Award, was
the first person to realise that titanium was very body-friendly
and could be implanted into bone without being rejected.
Titanium is covered with a thin l