Evaluation of Blood Titanium Levels and Total Bone Contact Area of Dental Implants

Pre and post-operative serum levels of titanium cobalt and aluminium after implant placement

The preoperative serum levels and postoperative serum levels of titanium, cobalt and aluminium from dental implants in order to assess the release of these ions and to assess any risk of toxicity from these ions after dental implant placement is of interest to dentists. It was observed that there was very slight increase in serum concentration of titanium, cobalt and aluminium after 12 months of placement of implants as compared to before placement of implants. However the increase was non-significant statistically. Our study concluded that the use of dental implants does not pose any risk of toxicity of metal ions like titanium, aluminium and cobalt because of very slight non-significant increase in serum levels of these ions 12 months after implant placement.

Dental Implant Corrosion Products May Accumulate in the Human Body

BACKGROUND

Corrosion products resulting from the degradation of the dental implant surface due to biological fluids and infection may accumulate in the body and lead to clinical consequences.

PURPOSE

The primary aim of this study is to measure the accumulation of dental implant corrosion products in the human body and the secondary aim is to estimate the association between corrosion products and fatigue.

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE

This study was designed as a prospective cross-sectional and was conducted with patients presenting at to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The study included patients with Grade IV dental implants made of pure titanium (Ti) at the bone level and Grade V abutments composed of Ti, aluminum (Al), and vanadium (V). Individuals possessing different metallic implants and those prone to metal exposure were not included in the study. Blood and hair samples were procured from each participant and subsequently analyzed.

PREDICTOR VARIABLES

The predictor variable is implant exposure, and it was divided into 3 groups; Group I, patients with healthy dental implants; Group II, patients with peri-implantitis; Control Group, individuals without dental implants.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES

The primary outcome variables are Al, Ti, V levels in blood and hair samples and the secondary outcome variable is the fatigue questionnaire score.

COVARIATES

Age and gender, along with the dental implant number and duration of exposure within the study groups, are utilized as covariates.

ANALYSES

Groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests. Spearman's correlation coefficient determined relationships between groups, signifying significance with P values <.05.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 30 patients aged 18 to 68, with 53% being female and 47% male. The differences among the 3 groups in the median values of blood Ti, V; hair Al, Ti, V; and fatigue questionnaire scores were not statistically significant (P > .05). However, the median blood Al value was statistically higher in Group II (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

While the presence of healthy dental implants may not affect the accumulation of Al, Ti, and V within the body, patients with peri-implantitis exhibited elevated blood Al levels, possibly due to infection influencing the corrosion process.

Trace elements released from dental implants with periimplantitis: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Pure titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy have been in use as dental implant contemporarily. Trace element release from implant bodies is a possible health problem. Well-healed and osseointegrated intrabony implants are only in contact with bone and blood, but in the case of periimplantitis, the possibility of corrosion and the release of trace elements from dental implant surfaces increases due to contact with external factors.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to evaluate the trace element levels in the blood serum and saliva of patients who have dental implants with periimplantitis compared with the control group.

METHODS

This study included 25 patients diagnosed with periimplantitis and 25 participants with healthy osseointegrated implants as the control group. The trace element levels in blood serum and saliva were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

There is no statistically significant difference between groups for saliva samples except the aluminum (Al) levels of the study group are significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05) and the mercury (Hg) levels of the study group are significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there is a significant decrease in titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), and iodine (I) in the blood serum samples of the study group (p < 0.05). There is no significant difference between the groups for other measured trace elements in the blood serum (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There is no statistically significant increase in titanium or aluminum levels in the study group compared with the control group.

Evaluation of metal concentrations in hair and nails after dental implant placement

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The accumulation of the elements contained in Ti6Al4V, the mostly used titanium alloy for dental implants, in epithelial extensions requires investigation. Studies evaluating the metals in dental implants in the hair and nails of patients with dental implants are lacking.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this clinical research was to measure the levels of titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), and vanadium (V) in the hair and nails of patients treated with grade 5 Ti alloy dental implants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ti, Al, and V elemental levels in the hair and nail samples of 33 participants treated with grade 5 Ti alloy dental implants were measured by using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

RESULTS

The results revealed a statistically significant increase in the amount of Ti in nail samples after implant surgery (P=.01), but no statistically significant increases in the amounts of Al or V in nail samples (P=.48, P=.645). In hair samples, the increase in Ti, Al, and V was not statistically significant (P=.728, P=.221, P=.376). The correlation between the amount of change in the elements in implants and the contact areas was weak for hair (Al, r=0.114; Ti, r=0.361; V, r=0.377) and for nails (Al, r=0.127; Ti, r=0.116; V, r=0.058).

CONCLUSIONS

After the placement of dental implants made of grade 5 Ti alloy, minimal Al and V accumulated in hair and nails.

Are Titania Photocatalysts and Titanium Implants Safe? Review on the Toxicity of Titanium Compounds

Titanium and its compounds are broadly used in both industrial and domestic products, including jet engines, missiles, prostheses, implants, pigments, cosmetics, food, and photocatalysts for environmental purification and solar energy conversion. Although titanium/titania-containing materials are usually safe for human, animals and environment, increasing concerns on their negative impacts have been postulated. Accordingly, this review covers current knowledge on the toxicity of titania and titanium, in which the behaviour, bioavailability, mechanisms of action, and environmental impacts have been discussed in detail, considering both light and dark conditions. Consequently, the following conclusions have been drawn: (i) titania photocatalysts rarely cause health and environmental problems; (ii) despite the lack of proof, the possible carcinogenicity of titania powders to humans is considered by some authorities; (iii) titanium alloys, commonly applied as implant materials, possess a relatively low health risk; (iv) titania microparticles are less toxic than nanoparticles, independent of the means of exposure; (v) excessive accumulation of titanium in the environment cannot be ignored; (vi) titanium/titania-containing products should be clearly marked with health warning labels, especially for pregnant women and young children; (vi) a key knowledge gap is the lack of comprehensive data about the environmental content and the influence of titania/titanium on biodiversity and the ecological functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Titanium Alloys for Dental Implants: A Review

The topic of titanium alloys for dental implants has been reviewed. The basis of the review was a search using PubMed, with the large number of references identified being reduced to a manageable number by concentrating on more recent articles and reports of biocompatibility and of implant durability. Implants made mainly from titanium have been used for the fabrication of dental implants since around 1981. The main alloys are so-called commercially pure titanium (cpTi) and Ti-6Al-4V, both of which give clinical success rates of up to 99% at 10 years. Both alloys are biocompatible in contact with bone and the gingival tissues, and are capable of undergoing osseointegration. Investigations of novel titanium alloys developed for orthopaedics show that they offer few advantages as dental implants. The main findings of this review are that the alloys cpTi and Ti-6Al-4V are highly satisfactory materials, and that there is little scope for improvement as far as dentistry is concerned. The conclusion is that these materials will continue to be used for dental implants well into the foreseeable future.