Dental implants made of titanium or titanium alloy are widely used to provide a durable solution for missing teeth and restore functionality. Unfortunately, after several months, about 30% of patients may experience peri-implantitis, an infectious disease manifested by retraction of the jawbone around the implant and gradual exposure of the implant wires. To date, there is no clinical solution to delay or stop the progression of the disease, which can eventually lead to implant removal.
The reasons for the development of peri-implantitis are not yet well understood, and studies so far have focused only on the inflamed tissues. Recent work published in the prestigious Applied Surface Science Advances magazine, among whose authors is Prof. Daniel Rittel of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, takes a different approach by examining the surface of the implants on the nanoscale instead of the tissue around them.
This groundbreaking study reveals for the first time that the local protective titanium oxide layer is severely damaged over time, making the implant more prone to degradation and to lose its advantage as biocompatible. The research has more general implications for the field of metallic medical implants and their pathologies.
