Titanium micro-particles in the oral mucosa around dental implants are common according to new research in Sweden which also identified 14 genes that may be affected by these particles.
Previous research has shown that titanium particles may occur in inflamed tissues around dental implants. The new study by researchers at the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University, published in Communications Medicine, showed that titanium micro-particles were consistently found at all examined implants—even those without signs of inflammation.
The researchers analysed tissue samples from 21 patients with multiple adjacent implants. Samples were taken both at healthy implants and at implants affected by peri-implantitis. Each patient thus served as their own control. The density of particles varied between patients, but not between sites with and without peri-implantitis within the same patient.
The researchers used an advanced method called µ-PIXE to map the distribution of titanium particles in the tissue samples.
Peri-implantitis is a microbial biofilm-associated inflammatory disease around dental implants, with features similar to those of periodontitis around teeth. The inflammatory process is complex and the resulting destruction of supporting bone in peri-implantitis may lead to loss of the implant.
“We observed that tissue samples with higher concentrations of titanium particles had an altered gene expression, especially genes related to inflammation and wound healing,” Carlotta Dionigi said.
“We identified 14 such genes, but it is unclear whether the particles influence the local immune response or if the difference in gene expression reflects inter-individual variability in inflammatory conditions.”
The researchers suspect that titanium particles are released during the surgical installation procedure, when the screw-shaped implant is inserted into the prepared canal in the alveolar bone. In this context, the observation of differences in micro-particle densities between various implant systems deserves attention, since the surface structure of the implant may influence the deposition of micro-particles.
