What is a titanium implant?
Titanium is a strong, light, silver gray metal, which occurs quite commonly in igneous rocks and geological deposits. Titanium has a number of impressive qualities, including the ability to bind to the human bone in a process called biointegration or osseointegration . For this reason and the fact that the body does not refuse it can be used for a number of medical and dental purposes. For example, hip and knee replacement often includes the use of titanium implant. It is very strong for its weight, virtually non -magnetic and completely compatible with the human body. This is very remarkable because metal elements are not found in many places in the human body. Where metals exist, they are almost always there as parts of other molecules and complexes rather than in elementary form. This is the case of iron that connects to oxygen in the blood giant.
About one million patients around the world are treated every year for replacement of arthritic or damaged hips and knees. The range of available Titan alloysU allows designers of implants to closely adapt the material for its required application. The titanium implant of the right alloy will not corrode once inside the body as if the implant of another metal. It is one of the few materials that naturally meets every requirement for implantation in the human body.
Another advantage offered by Titanium is that there are ways to treat the surface of titanium implant to further support osseointegration. For example, giving the implant a rough surface and treating it with a bioactive agent such as hydroxyapatite, stimulating osseointegration and increasing the life of the implant. This is of particular importance for younger patients and Also, because older patients, as the expectations of life increase.
The field of dentistry is increasingly looking for use for titanium implants. The titanium implant for the use of a dentist will usually consist of a screw that resembles a tooth rootand has a smooth or rough surface. The "root" is placed in the jaw and the process of osseointegration can take place for several weeks or months. At a suitable time, the dentist connects the root to the root. Because the root is already integrated, the patient is immediately able to use a new implant as if it was a natural tooth.