Researchers from the Linköping University in Sweden have tested a drug coating that enables strong and rapid fixation of dental implants into the jawbone.
A drug coating method for stronger dental implants
The drug coating allows titanium screws to fasten into the bone and deliver purchase for artificial teeth. With the use of the current method, the bone surrounding the titanium screw will take four to six months for healing and becomes strong.
The coating includes a very thin layer of protein that connects to the surface of the metal. The protein is attached with a drug that belongs to bisphosphonates class used normally to treat osteoporosis. Researchers have conducted numerous animal studies on the drug coating method and for the first time, the testing has been performed on humans. The treated implants have been tested on 16 patients. Each patient has been provided with two implants: one normal and other one is the coated implant. After six months, researchers were able to observe that 15 out of 16 patients have benefited from the surface-treated screw and there were no complications in the process.
Per Aspenberg, professor of orthopaedic surgery has led the study along with Jahan Abtahi. . Addbio, a Sweden-based company, is currently working to commercialize the method for different types of bone implants.
Biomaterials professor, Pentti Tengvall, developed the technique of drug attachment to the screw and the research was done by specialist PhD and MD, Jahan Abtahi, with the support of Per Aspenberg. Addbio AB is situated in Linköping and is working on marketing the surface treatment for several kinds of bone implants.