Alumina: As a Biocompatible Biomaterial Used in Dental Implants

Research Article

J Dent App. 2022; 8(1): 472-476.

Alumina: As a Biocompatible Biomaterial Used in Dental Implants

Kavya K1*, Sharanraj V2*, C.M. Ramesh3, Naveen Kumar M4, Vasantha Kumar5, Sadashiva M6, T Anil Kumar7, Chandan B R8

1Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Langford Road, Bengaluru - 560027, Karnataka, India

2Senior Grade Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering (W&SM), Sri Jayachamarajendra (Govt.) Polytechnic, K.R Circle, Bengaluru - 560001, Karnataka, India

3Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Bengaluru - 560054, Karnataka, India

4Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Bengaluru - 560054, Karnataka, India

5Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bearys Institute of Technology, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Mangalore - 574153, Karnataka, India

6Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PESCE, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Mandya – 571422, Karnataka, India

7Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Bengaluru -560054, Karnataka, India

8Professor & Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, G. Madegowda Institute of Technology, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Mandya – 571422, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding author: Kavya K, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Langford Road, Bengaluru - 560027, Karnataka, India

Sharanraj V, Senior Grade Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering (W&SM), Sri Jayachamarajendra (Govt.) Polytechnic, K.R Circle, Bengaluru - 560001, Karnataka, India

Received: July 06, 2022; Accepted: August 01, 2022; Published: August 08, 2022

Abstract

Alumina is a ceramic bio inert biomaterial having purity 99.5% Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and 0.5% Magnesium oxide (MgO), find its wide application in dental implant due to good bio-compatible property with adjacent tissue, better wear and aesthetic characteristics. This paper represents the in-vitro tests conducted to evaluation toxicity by cell culturing on Alumina biomaterial used in the dental implant by both direct contact and extraction method. In the present study in-vitro assessment of tissue bio compatibility was conducted on L929 cell line (mouse fibroblast). In-vitro test, the toxicity of Alumina specimen was done by computing percentage of viability in a cell cultured medium. An MTT system was used to measure the active cell activities with mitochondrial-dehydrogenases, which is an easy method which gives accurate and precision results. The results of biocompatibility in-vitro test by both Direct and Extraction methods confirmed that Alumina exhibits a highest cell growth of 93.05% and resulted with zero grade cytotoxicity. Alumina having good aesthetic characteristics i.e., colour of the implant matches with the tooth colour. Hence Alumina is a best candidate alternate implant material compared to other metal implants.

Keywords: Alumina (Al2O3); Bioinert material; Alternate dental implant; Cytotoxicity; MTT

Introduction

Alumina is traditionally referred as aluminium oxide, which is used as a bio-inert material. Aluminum oxide is the principal oxide of aluminium. Alumina forms the basis of a very wide and important range of ceramic articles and components. Its great usefulness as a material has resistance to hardness, withstand higher temperatures, less electric conductivity. Alumina is the major constituents have high density hence forms a high grade refractory material. As micrometer grain size alumina material, it provides good wear resistance and insulating property. Alumina do not induce direct bond with the host tissue, instead they are encapsulated by a characteristics thin layer of fibrous tissue after implantation.

Alumina having purity greater than 99.5% find its importance in implant application due to good bio-compatible property with adjacent tissue, better wear and friction property and Aesthetic characteristics. Alumina has less tensile strength due to its brittle nature of the material. Alumina with high density and higher purity has good corrosion resistant bio-compatible better compression strength and good wear resistant making it as a useful ceramic single piece implant [1].

Alumina Refining Process

The oxide of alumina is the third most common element in the earth’s crust, but it exists primarily in the form of bauxite ore. The most common mineral constituent of bauxite is gibbsite but the boehmite and diasporeoxy hydroxide phases are also found. Pure single crystal aluminum oxide is colorless and transmitting radiation over a wide spectral range. (Figure 1) shows the flow chart of alumina refining process [2].