Research network FOR 5250 in cooperation with TU Dortmund is funded by the DFG for a further four years. Implants are becoming increasingly important for replacing missing teeth. As artificial tooth roots, the screws, which are usually made of titanium, are implanted into the jawbone and grow together there as stable supports for the visible dentures. The crown or larger restorations, such as bridges or removable dentures, are then attached via a small connecting element. Sometimes, however, the implant does not heal firmly in the jawbone or loses its hold at a later stage, meaning that the artificial tooth root has to be removed again. There are many reasons for this: tissue degradation in the surrounding bone due to inflammation, unfavorable biomechanical stress during the healing phase or insufficient bone substance due to age or predisposition. The aim of the FOR 5250 research network is to prevent implant loss as far as possible. Unlike current „off-the-shelf“ solutions, researchers from the fields of medicine and engineering are working on the development of customized, personalized implants. These are designed to take into account the patient's individual bone situation, optimize the chewing load on the implant as far as possible and also prevent colonization with pathogenic bacteria in the oral flora and the resulting inflammation. Responsible for the medical side of the project is Prof. Dr. Meike Stiesch, Director of the Clinic for Dental Prosthetics and Biomedical Materials Science of the Hannover Medical School (MHH). The cooperation partner for technical issues is the Dortmund University of Technology. The German Research Foundation (DFG) extended the funding in December 2025 for a further four years and is supporting the project with 4.4 million euros. „An important factor for the long-term prognosis of dental implants is mechanical stress in the surrounding bone, which is triggered by masticatory forces,“ says Professor Stiesch. The researchers use a computer-aided simulation process to determine these stresses at the boundary between the bone and the implant in advance. This allows them to calculate the strength of the implant before it is manufactured, analyze possible stresses and deformations and determine the individual internal structure that is optimally adapted to the load. In the additive process - also known as 3D printing - a patient-specific, so-called graded implant is manufactured layer by layer according to the digital specifications. This is specially adapted to the different bone structures and tensions within the jawbone. It is not only important what the inside of the implant looks like. The surface also plays a decisive role in ensuring that the artificial tooth root grows in well and remains in place in the jawbone for as long as possible. To this end, the additively manufactured implants are treated mechanically and chemically by sandblasting and etching so that bone-forming cells can attach better to the surface. The researchers are also developing new coatings with magnesium alloys that ensure better bone healing. At the same time, the alloys have an antibacterial effect and prevent bacteria from attaching to the implant surface and forming biofilms that are difficult to treat. The researchers have already developed an initial model system for an improved standard implant in the first funding phase. Now they want to extend their calculations to special requirements, such as for older people whose jaws are often less stable due to the age-related loss of bone substance. „Implants are a wonderful way to create functional dentures without affecting the neighboring teeth,“ says Professor Stiesch. „We want to ensure that as many patients as possible receive optimal dental care that is tailored to their specific needs and is safe and durable.“ However, more research work needs to be done before this is achieved. However, contact has already been established with interested medical technology companies. The interdisciplinary research network FOR 5250 is a cooperation between the Hannover Medical School, the Dortmund University of Technology, the Leibniz University Hanover, the Laser Center Hanover, the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, the Reutlingen University and the University of Rostock. Text: Kirsten Pötzke Source: MHH
Production using 3D printing
Antibacterial surfaces
Special requirements for older people