Validation of three-dimensional surface characterising methods: Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy

Surface characteristics of enosseous titanium implants have been known to i nfluence the quality of osseointegration. Parameters recommended for metric al analysis should be supplemented by a topographical description. In this study, Ra values obtained by established tactile and optical profilometric methods are correlated with those obtained by stereo scanning electron micr oscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). As test specime ns, standardised CVD diamond-coated titanium alloys with different microwav e coating power ranging from 2000 to 3000 W were used. A non-CVD-coated cor und grit-blasted specimen (NC) was used as reference. After coating with a CVD, power of 2000 W Ra ranges from 4.33 to 5.69 pm depending on the method used. With increasing power of the coating process, the amplitude of the s urface roughness is significantly increased to 4.53 to 6.89 mum. R-a values of the same sample obtained by different methods are also significantly di fferent (p=0.001). Compared with the established methods of tactile and opt ical profilometry, SEM and CLSM offer valid data on the surface roughness a ccompanied by a topographical imaging. In future studies, the underlying me thod should be specified to interpret roughness values correctly, as not ev ery method is suitable for each specimen and values obtained by different m ethods vary extremely.