Laser surface microdrilling of Ti and laser gas nitrided Ti for enhancing fixation of dental implants

Laser microdrilling was carried out on titanium and TiN coated titanium. The metallurgically bonded TiN coating on Ti was achieved by laser gas nitriding. Because of the difference in melting points between the TiN and Ti phases, holes of different geometry were obtained. In the TiN coated Ti specimen, vase shape holes were obtained. By applying the electrochemical dissolution technique, the vase shape holes were connected at the root of the holes and a subsurface porous network could be formed. This structure is expected to enhance the fixation of dental implants.