Analysis of Failed Dental Implant Surfaces

Analysis of Failed Dental Implant Surfaces
E.G. ZEN"BIO1, J.A. SHIBLI2, S. D'AVILA2, E. MARCANTONIO2, and E. MARCANTONIO JR.2, 1 PUC-Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil, 2 Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara-UNESP, Brazil, Araraquara SP, Brazil
2003
IADR
Objective: Several longitudinal studies have reported high survival and success rates for dental implants. Nevertheless, dental implant failures due to peri-implant infection have also been reported. The aim of this investigation was to analyze the surface topography and composition of failed titanium dental implants in order to determine possible causes of failure. Methods: Twenty-three failed commercially pure titanium dental implants were retrieved from 18 patients (mean age of 50.33+11.81 years). Sixteen dental implants were retrieved before loading (early failures), 6 after loading (late failures), and 1 because of mandibular canal damage. The failure criterion was lack of osseointegration characterized as dental implant mobility. The late failures were clinical and radiographically characterized as peri-implantitis, i.e., bleeding upon probing, suppuration, and alveolar bone loss. Three unused dental implants were used as control group. All dental implant surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectrometer x-ray (EDX) to element analysis. Evaluations were performed at different locations of each implant. Results: SEM showed that the surface of all retrieved dental implants consisted of different degrees of organic residues, appearing mainly as dark stains. The surface topography presented as grooves and ridges along the machined surface similar to control group. Overall, foreign elements such as carbon, oxygen, sodium, calcium, silicon, and aluminum were detected in failed implants. The dental implants from control group presented no macroscopic contamination and clear signs of titanium. Conclusion: These results do not suggest any material-related cause for dental implant failures, although different element composition was assessed between failed implants and control implants (unused implants).