Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Dentistry
Centre for Stomatological Research
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
When determining differences in biological-acceptability of cast titanium and Ti-alloy in relation to materials used, fabrication procedure employed, surface enhancements and Radio Frequency Glow Discharge Treatment (RFGDT), it was found that RFGDT significantly reduced the concentration of carbon and other contaminants on the surface exposing the titanium oxide. The major peak for Ti was TiO2. Cast samples had rougher surface appearance than machined samples. Casting, surface enhancement and RFGDT increased oxide thickness. With time, fibroblast cells showed significant increases in percentage attachment efficiency and multiplying, while osteoblast-like cells showed significant decreases. Fibroblast cells tended to multiply on relatively smooth surfaces whereas osteoblast-like cells favoured the rougher surface appearance produced by casting and surface enhancement. SEM revealed that fibroblast and osteoblast-like cells attached on machined surfaces by cells spreading and displaying the underlying appearance while on cast, and enhanced surfaces cells attached to the available peaks and used these attachments to suspend themselves over the surface.
Contact person: Prof SJ Botha.
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