Development of a novel method to characterize mean surface peak curvature as a signature of tribological performance of dental implant surfaces

Abstract

The integrity of dental implant surfaces might be compromised during surgical insertion. Wear and topographical modifications can occur during implant insertion, which can potentially have clinical implications. Accordingly, the analysis and prediction of the wear behaviour of dental implant surfaces is fundamental. Surface mean curvature is a key topographical parameter in contact mechanics, related to wear and plastic deformation; however, there is not a consensus on its characterization. In this paper, a critical analysis of the feature parameter Spc from ISO 25178-2 is carried out, which addresses its limited ability to characterize dental implant surfaces. A novel alternative parameter (named 'relative mean peak curvature' ΔSdq) is presented and evaluated in representative dental implant treatments. The obtained results suggest a positive correlation between the surface peak curvature and its tribological signature in biomedical implants. Although biomedical experiments are needed to validate this correlation, the novel method is presented as a tool for future studies.