Artificial Teeth for Permanent Implantation

Artificial teeth with a low solubility and with properties similar to natural teeth were produced for implantation tests. The teeth were made from MgAI,O, spine! and Ca,(P0,)2 Whitlockite to achieve low solubility and non-toxic reaction products. The method of manufacture is described. This research was conducted to develop a material with characteristics much like natural dental porcelain which can be used as a permanent replacement for a natural tooth. The final product is seen as either a complete tooth which has one end of high porosity and one of low, or as an anchor in which a hole can be drilled for a tooth cap to be placed. The difference in porosity throughout the pellet is necessary to enable the jaw bone to grow into the pores and form a permanent anchor while the upper less porous area serves as the tooth or the crown support. Such an implant must fulfill a number of functions: 1) transmit load in chewing to the jaw bone 2) resist wear and stresses of chewing 3) resist chemical solution of mouth acids and ingested chemicals such as citric acid 4) insulate the mouth when in contact with hot or cold foods 5) insulate the mouth from electrical currents set up by electro-chemical potentials 6) cause no harmful reactions oo the hard or soft tissues with which it will be in contact. To fulfill these functions the material must be a hard, impervious, strong insulator of minimum solubility. Any products of hydration must be those which will not cause harmful reactions to the tissues. Natural teeth are composed of fluorohydroxyapatite and collagen. For this research a mixture of Whitlockite, Ca3 (P04 ) 2 and spinel, MgA1 20 4 , was chosen to give a minimum solubility. Additions of boric oxide, cryolite and rutile were made to facilitate manufacture.