Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS
The adhesion between dental prostheses and oral tissue is often suboptimal. This can lead to discomfort, instability, and even medical complications. The “OptiHaft” project aims to develop innovative technologies for the micro-nano structuring of plastics for dental prostheses. This new technology promises to significantly improve the adhesion and durability of dental prostheses and reduce biofilm and tartar, which can improve both the quality of life of patients and the efficiency of dental care.
Despite remarkable advances in dental care in recent decades, adhesion between dental prostheses and oral tissue remains a significant challenge. Many patients who rely on dental prostheses or splints report inadequate adhesion. This problem can lead to physical discomfort and impair the well-being of those affected, especially when speaking, eating, or laughing.
Current approaches to improving adhesion often use adhesion promoters or special adhesives. However, these products can have undesirable side effects such as allergic reactions, intolerances, and the risk of oral infections. There is also a risk that these solutions may compromise the long-term stability of the dentures, as they can wear out or become detached over time, resulting in additional adjustments and costs.
The newly started “OptiHaft” project is dedicated to addressing these challenges in order to develop a sustainable, innovative solution: stable micro-nano structures on the surface of plastics that optimize the physical properties of the materials and enable a significant improvement in adhesion. “Dental prostheses and splints are often made entirely of plastic or at least have a plastic layer on the outside, where they come into contact with the oral tissue,” explains Annika Thormann, project manager in the “Biofunctional Materials for Medicine and the Environment” group at Fraunhofer IMWS. “These changes in the structure of the materials used can result in the dentures adhering better to the oral tissue, which reduces the use of chemical bonding agents and at the same time extends the service life of the prostheses.”
To manufacture the micro-nano structures, a hot embossing process is being used in the three-year project, for which a patent has already been filed. Preliminary investigations have already shown that these structures can increase the adhesive strength of prosthetic plastics by up to 49 percent compared to unstructured surfaces. The technology is being developed in close cooperation with industry partners to ensure that it meets market requirements and can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing processes.