| The Electro Discharge Compaction (EDC) process affords an ideal method of producing porous titanium cylindrical root form (CRF) dental implants. Compression, torque tests, hardness measurements and X-ray analyses confirmed the EDC superiority to other porous fabrication techniques. The fabrication parameters of sample weight, capacitance, electrode configuration and internal integrity were established to produce a viable dental implant with the maximum porosity consistent with the mechanical requirements of the implant. The bone response to these porous EDC implants, placed into rabbit tibia, were found to be compatible and fully osseointegrated. A model and analysis of the current flow through the beads during discharge revealed that internal voids and incomplete bonding of surface beads (at low implant densities) are to be expected. |
