Titanium and its alloys are frequently the biomaterial
of choice
for dental implant applications. Although titanium dental implants
have been utilized for decades, there are yet unresolved issues pertaining
to implant failure. Dental implant failure can arise either through
wear and fatigue of the implant itself or peri-implant disease and
subsequent host inflammation. In the present report, we provide a
comprehensive review of titanium and its alloys in the context of
dental implant material, and how surface properties influence the
rate of bacterial colonization and peri-implant disease. Details are
provided on the various periodontal pathogens implicated in peri-implantitis,
their adhesive behavior, and how this relationship is governed by
the implant surface properties. Issues of osteointegration and immunomodulation
are also discussed in relation to titanium dental implants. Some impediments
in the commercial translation for a novel titanium-based dental implant
from “bench to bedside” are discussed. Numerous in vitro studies on novel materials, processing techniques,
and methodologies performed on dental implants have been highlighted.
The present report review that comprehensively compares the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies
of titanium and its alloys for dental implants.