DT News - UK - Titanium implants may carry risk of corrosion

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 9 August 2012

save

BIRMINGHAM, UK: Titanium medical implants used in dental prostheses and bone-anchored hearing aids may be less robust than commonly believed. Researchers have found evidence to suggest that in environments where there is no significant wear process, microscopic particles of titanium can be found in the surrounding tissue, which may have a negative impact on the devices, as this can potentially be pro-inflammatory.

Globally, more than 1,000 tonnes of titanium are implanted into patients in the form of biomedical devices every year. Metallic prostheses, fixation and anchoring devices are used extensively for dental, orthopaedic, and craniofacial rehabilitation and their effects on the body are widely perceived to be predictable following initial implantation.

For this study, Dr Owen Addison in the Biomaterials unit of the University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry and his team obtained tissue from patients undergoing scheduled revision surgery associated with bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Soft tissue surrounding commercially pure titanium anchorage devices was examined using micro-focus synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy at the Diamond Light Source, Oxford, UK.

“The results showed, for the first time, a scattered and heterogeneous distribution of titanium in inflamed tissue taken from around failing skin-penetrating titanium implants,” the authors reported. “Wear processes and implant debris were unlikely to be major contributors to the problem. In the absence of obvious macroscopic wear or loading processes, we propose that the titanium in the tissue results from micro-motion and localised corrosion in surface crevices.”

The development of peri-implant inflammation may result in the premature loss of the implanted device or the requirement for revision/rescue surgery, which are scenarios that can “impact on patients’ well-being and economically on the health service provider,” the authors concluded in the study.

“Our results emphasise the need to understand further both the physical and chemical mechanisms leading to the dispersal of titanium species in tissue around implants and their potential to exacerbate inflammation. Similar processes are likely to contribute to the failure of other metal implants in soft tissues, where macroscopic wear is not considered to be a risk.”

Addison commented: “Titanium is still the most appropriate material to put into bone and to be used in these devices. It is the gold standard. However, these interesting findings demonstrate that improvements in these materials can be sought. Research at Birmingham is currently being conducted to look at the biological consequences of these findings and to understand the mechanisms by which the debris is produced. This should in no way alarm those with BAHA implants or similar devices.”

The study “Do ‘passive’ medical titanium surfaces deteriorate in service in the absence of wear?” was published online on 25 July in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface ahead of print.

To post a reply please login or register

Mouthwash may reveal risk of cardiovascular disease

HAMILTON, Ontario, Canada: The link between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease is well established. However, most research in this area concerns older...

New discovery helps strengthen bonding of titanium implants to bone

BRISTOL, UK: Scientists at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol have discovered a new way to improve the bond between titanium implants ...

Dental implants entail risk of nerve damage

LONDON – As the number of people choosing to have dental implants is increasing, experts have warned that these surgeries can cause severe pain and ...

Growth lines of primary teeth may help evaluate risk of developing mental disorders

BRISTOL, UK/BOSTON, US: The thickness of growth marks in primary teeth may help identify children at risk for depression and other mental health disorders ...

Poor oral health due to junk food may elevate risk of heart disease

CAMBRIDGE – Saturated fats in junk food have been associated with obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia risk. Now, researchers from the University of ...

Regular aspirin intake may reduce oral cancer risk

BELFAST, UK: The findings of a new study suggest that regular use of aspirin could cut head and neck cancer risk by almost a quarter. The researchers found ...

Dental students are not exempt from risk of sharps injuries

PLYMOUTH, UK: The ramifications of sharps injuries within a clinical treatment setting extend beyond the immediate physical harm, potentially inducing ...

Benefits of water fluoridation may have peaked in rich countries

MANCHESTER, UK: Researchers from the University of Manchester have conducted a pioneering study in the UK focusing on the oral health and economic impacts ...

Taking good care of your teeth may be good for your brain

SENDAI, Japan: A new study has found that periodontal disease and tooth loss are linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory ...

Oral bacteria may give rise to brain abscesses, study shows

PLYMOUTH, UK: In a recent study, researchers investigated the role of oral bacteria in the development of brain abscesses. They found that the samples of ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 29 April 2024
5:30 pm UTC (London)