Raising the question of titanium dental implants corrosion and release of titanium ions: discussion of the available evidences and the significance of the phenomenon

Abstract

Introduction. Corrosion of dental implants, as a process of gradual degradation of titanium alloys used as the main material for their manufacture, is multifactorial by its etiology and occurs under the influence of electrical, chemical and mechanical factors, and characterized by having an impact on the state of peri-implant tissues and the structure of the peri-implant microbiome. Objective. To systematize data on the phenomena of dental titanium implants corrosion and the release of ions from the surface of placed intraosseous screws in terms of their clinical significance, taking into account the causes of their occurrence. Methodology/Methods. The study was conducted in the form of a retrospective literature review. In order to search for publications that were most relevant with the research objective, and that could potentially contain information about the causes of the development and clinical significance of the phenomenon of dental titanium implants corrosion, the following set of keywords was formed: “dental implant”, «corrosion», “titanium dissolution”, “ion release”. The processing of the selected scientific works involved a detailed content analysis in accordance with the previously formed categories. Results and Discussion. Based on the lack of available clinical data of appropriate quality, it is difficult to summarize whether the corrosion of dental implants can provoke the progression of already existing pathology of peri-implantitis, or is a causal factor in relation to the development of inflammatory changes within the surrounding tissues. The relationship between the development of peri-implantitis and the defects of the oxide film on the surface of titanium implant has not yet been definitively studied, however, in previous studies it has been noted that corrosion of the dental implant can potentially be considered as one of the trigger factors for the development of peri-implantitis, and implants with signs of inflammation of the surrounding bone tissue are characterized with the presence of oxide film defects. Despite the fact that sufficient qualitative evidences regarding the connection between the concentration of present titanium particles within the surrounding tissues and the risk of peri-implantitis inflammation has not yet been found, the available data indicate that titanium particles, in principle, can play a pro-inflammatory role in relation to changes of peri-implant tissues condition. Conclusions. The question regarding clinical significance of the titanium dental implants surface’s microsolubility and their corrosion remains a subject of debate, however, taking into account the lack of evidences that would confirm the determining or initiative role of corrosion in the development of peri-implant disorders, it can be concluded that the slow degradation of titanium surfaces during the functioning of intraosseous screws does not pose a threat to the prognosis of success and survival of the latter, and is not characterized by a pronounced negative effect on the patient's body under the condition of absent adjacent inflammatory changes in the form of perimucositis or peri-implantitis.