Ultra-short pulsed laser manufacturing of yttria stabilized alumina-toughened zirconia dental implants

A novel strategy for the production of sintered ceramic dental implants is reported. The innovative and versatile 7-axes laser processing test bench makes the production of complex shapes with high precision possible. Quasi-tangential strategies prove an average deviation smaller 5 mu m with a surface roughness R-a of 0.24 mu m. The material is an yttria-stabilized alumina-toughened zirconia ceramic suited for biological applications subjected to load and wear. The heat-affected zone is negligible as shown by Raman spectroscopy. Following, this layer is laser ablated with an orthogonal strategy. Defined surface structures, like spots and grooves in the micrometer regime, are introduced for potential altered tissue interaction and enhanced osseointegration.