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Review Article
Dept of Prosthodontics, 2Dept of Dental Material, Krishna School of Dental Sciences, Malakapur, Karad [M.S]
*Corresponding author, Dr. Siddharth Gosavi (siddhu_gosavi@rediffmail.com)
Received 24 July 2012; Accepted 14 January 2013; Available online 14 January 2013
Since the introduction of titanium and titanium alloys in the early 1950s, these materials in a relatively short time have become
backbone materials for the aerospace, energy, and chemical industries. Titanium and its alloys are used in dentistry as prosthetic
appliances because of its unique combination of chemical, physical, and biological properties. Cast and wrought form of titanium
are used in dentistry. The basic properties of titanium like biocompatibility, corrosion, strength, shape memory etc are discussed
in detail. These properties of titanium make it the miracle metal in dentistry.
Introduction
The use of titanium and titanium alloys for medical and
dental applications has increased dramatically in recent
years. Titanium (pronounced /tai teiniem) was
discovered in England by William Gregor in 1791 and
named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth for the Titans of
Greek mythology [1]. Titanium is a chemical element
with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Sometimes
called the space age metal. It is a light, strong, lustrous,
naturally corrosion-resistant (including to sea water and
chlorine) transition metal with a grayish color. This metal
has a high melting point at around 1,7000C; one of the
highest melting points of any known metal.
Many of titaniums physical and mechanical properties
make it desirable as a material for implants and
prostheses. Today, titanium and titanium alloys are used
in so many biomedical applications; Cp titanium is used
for dental implants, surface coatings, and more recently
for crown, partial and complete dentures, and orthodontic
wires. Several titanium alloys are also used. Wrought
alloys of Ti with Ni and Ti with Molybdenum are used
for orthodontic wires. The term titanium is often used to
include all types of pure and alloyed titanium [2].
Titanium alloys
Pure titanium undergoes a transition from a hexagonal
close packed structure ( phase) to a body centred cubic
structure (phase) at 883 0 C. It remains in this
crystallographic structure until melting at 1672 0C.
Elements such as Al, Ga, and Sn, with the interstitial
elements (C, O, and N) stabilize phase, resulting in
alpha titanium alloy. On the other hand, elements such
as V, Nb, Ta, and Mo, stabilize the phase. Titanium
can be alloyed with various elements to change its
characteristics, primarily to improve the physical and
mechanical properties, such as strength, high temperature
performance, creep resistance, weldability, response to
ageing heat treatments, and formability. [3, 4, 5] Alloying
elements can be added to stabilize one or the other of
these phases by either raising or lowering the transition
temperatures. Alloying elements are added to stabilize
either and phase, by changing transformation
temperature. For example, in Ti-6Al-4V, aluminium is
as stabilizer, which expands phase field by increasing
the (+ ) to -transformation temperature, where as
vanadium, as well as copper and palladium, are
stabilizers, which expand the phase by decreasing the
(+ ) to -transformation temperature [6, 7, 8].
ASTM International (the American Society for Testing
and Materials) recognizes four grades of commercially
pure titanium (Cp Ti), or Ti, and three titanium alloys
Conclusion
Titanium and titanium alloys, based on their physical and
chemical properties, appear to be especially suitable for
dental implants and prostheses. Titanium also shows a
low toxicity, great stability with low corrosion rates and
favourable mechanical properties compared to other
metals make titanium as a miracle metal for the biomedical
applications. The combination of high strength-to-weight
ratio, Lightweight, excellent mechanical properties
(Strong), corrosion resistance, Biocompatible, Non-toxic,
Long-lasting, Non-ferromagnetic, Osseointegrated (the
joining of bone with artificial implant), Cost-efficient and
Long range availability makes titanium the best material
choice for many critical applications.
Based on clinical experience with wrought titanium dental
implants, wrought titanium crown and bridge applications
have been developed. With the advent of reproducible
high tolerance, machining and processing techniques,
such as spark erosion, laser welding and micromachining,
and computer aided design computer aided
manufacturing wrought titanium crowns are possible now.
Future applications are likely to include partial denture
work, other precision work, implant supported rests,
and orthodontic components.
References
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