This study aimed to evaluate the impact of surface-modified biomedical titanium (Ti) dental implant on osseointegration. The surfaces were modified using an innovative dip-coating technique (IDCT; sandblasted, large-grit, and acid-etched, then followed by coating with the modified pluronic F127 biodegradable polymer). The surface morphology and hemocompatibility evaluations were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, while the contact analysis was observed by goniometer. The IDCT-modified Ti implant was also implanted in patients with missing teeth by single-stage surgical procedure then observed immediately and again four months after placement by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) imaging. It was found that the IDCT-modified Ti implant was rougher than the dental implant without surface modification. Contact angle analysis showed the IDCT-modified Ti implant was lower than the dental implant without surface modification. The hemocompatibility evaluations showed greater red blood cell aggregation and fibrin filament formation on the IDCT-modified Ti implant. The radiographic and CBCT image displayed new bone formation at four months after the IDCT-modified Ti implant placement. Therefore, this study suggests that the IDCT-modified Ti dental implant has great potential to accelerate osseointegration.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk of stroke incidence in patients with periodontitis. Methods: Data on patients diagnosed with periodontitis were collected from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database and were matched (1:1) with patients without periodontitis between 2001 and 2010. A multivariable Cox survival model was used to predict stroke between patients with and without periodontitis, and the possibility of confounders. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to explore the risk of stroke in the case and control groups. Diseases found during the follow-up period were analyzed to determine possible effects on the study. A total of 282 560 periodontitis and nonperiodontitis patients were enrolled, with most subjects aged 40 to 59 years. Results: The overall cumulative incidence of stroke was 2.14 times higher in periodontitis than in nonperiodontitis, and the highest HR was in the more than 80 years age group (HR = 9.30; 95% CI, 7.06-12.26). The multivariate Cox model indicated that the adjusted HR (aHR) between the case and control was 2.03 (95% CI, 1.99-2.08), and a higher aHR was associated with hypertension. Atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, obesity, kidney disease, anxiety, and gout discovered during follow-up also showed a potential risk of stroke in patients with periodontitis. Conclusion: Therefore, this study suggests a high risk of stroke in patients with periodontitis.

In this study, the innovative dip-coating technique treated titanium (IDCT-Ti) implant with tetrapeptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp (GRGD) coating was investigated for its potential to enhance osseointegration. The L929 fibroblast cells were cultured in different concentrations of the GRGD (1%, 2%, and 5%). The cell viability was assessed through 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and live/dead staining. The surface topography and nano-indentation were analyzed by atomic force microscopy. The hemocompatibility was evaluated via field-emission scanning electron microscopy, while contact angle analysis was detected by a goniometer. Radiograph evaluation was determined by panoramic imaging. It was found that the cell growth increased and had a survival rate of more than 70% in 1% GRGD. The mortality of L929 increased with the higher concentration of GRGD. The IDCT-Ti coated with 1% GRGD showed a nano-surface with a Young’s modulus that was similar to human cortical bone, and it displayed greater red blood cell accumulations with abundant fibrin formation. As regards the wettability, the IDCT-Ti coated with 1% GRGD was lower than the SLA (sandblasted, large-grit, and acid-etched) treated implant. The X-ray image exhibited no bone loss around the implant at six months after placement. As a result, this study suggests that the IDCT-Ti implant, coated with 1% GRGD, has a tremendous likeliness to enhance osseointegration.