Bio-Tribocorrosion of Titanium Dental Implants in the Oral Environment: A Narrative Review

TL;DR

This review explores how mechanical wear and corrosion interact in the mouth to degrade titanium dental implants, affecting their long-term success.

Contribution

The paper introduces the concept of bio-tribocorrosion and its implications for titanium dental implants in the oral environment.

Findings

Bio-tribocorrosion involves mechanical wear and electrochemical corrosion influenced by biological factors in the mouth.

Titanium ion and particle release from implants can lead to inflammation, immune responses, and bone loss.

Current testing methods for tribocorrosion have limitations, and new strategies like surface modifications are being explored.

Abstract

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in dental implantology because of their favorable mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, long-term clinical success of dental implants is increasingly challenged by material degradation processes occurring in the complex oral environment. Tribocorrosion, a synergistic phenomenon involving mechanical wear and electrochemical corrosion, has emerged as a critical mechanism contributing to implant surface deterioration. When biological factors such as oral biofilms, saliva, inflammatory mediators, and fluctuating pH are incorporated into this interaction, the process is termed bio-tribocorrosion. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of tribocorrosion and extends them to the context of bio-tribocorrosion affecting titanium dental implants. The mechanisms underlying the synergism between mechanical loading and chemical or electrochemical degradation are discussed, along with factors influencing bio-tribocorrosion in the oral cavity, including implant material composition, surface characteristics, biofilm formation, fluoride exposure, salivary components, mastication-induced micromovements, and galvanic interactions. The biological consequences of titanium ion and particle release are critically examined, with emphasis on cytotoxicity, inflammatory responses, immune modulation, hypersensitivity reactions, peri-implant tissue breakdown, and bone loss. Evidence linking titanium wear debris to peri-implantitis and implant failure is reviewed, and current in vitro tribocorrosion testing methodologies and their limitations are summarized. Finally, emerging strategies aimed at mitigating bio-tribocorrosion, such as alloy development, surface modifications, protective coatings, and alternative biomaterials, are discussed. Understanding bio-tribocorrosion is essential for improving implant longevity, minimizing biological complications, and guiding future innovations in dental implant materials and design.

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