In vivo aging and corrosion aspects of dental implants

Abstract

The modern endosseous dental implants are made by Ti thanks to its biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and adequate mechanical properties of this material. Additionally Ti is characterized by osseoinductive properties providing increased fixation with the adjacent human bone. Despite the beneficial properties of Ti over the previously used stainless steel dental implants, the Ti implants are not free of problems and failure of dental implants is a great concern in everyday clinical practice. This chapter offers fundamental information for the current status of Ti implants in dental surgery providing also a picture for the failure mechanisms based on current clinical data. The text also deals with the corrosion aspect of Ti under clinical conditions and galvanic phenomena that may be triggered by the presence of implant-retained superstructures made of precious and base alloys or other metallic materials which are used in restorative dentistry.