Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Titanium: The implant material of today

  • Review
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The use of metals for the replacement of structural components of the human body has been with us for some considerable time. The metals originally used were stainless steels which have gradually been replaced by cobalt-chromium alloys. Although titanium has been used since the late forties, it is only relatively recently that it has gained widespread interest. Titanium and its alloys are being used more and more in preference to the cobalt-chromium alloys and has broadened the field of applications. The features which make titanium such an interesting material are its excellent corrosion resistance in the biological environment, combined with an exception degree of biocompatibility which it shares with only a handful of other materials. In this review the background to the clinical use of titanium is discussed with particular attention to the biological aspects of the material. While there are now many clinical uses for titanium and its alloys their main areas of application are in the field of dentistry and orthopaedics and these are described in some detail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. Laing andD. Taylor, NHS Report from the Office of Health Economics (1982) (DHSS, London, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. T. Bothe, K. E. Beaton andH. A. Davenport,Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 71 (1940) 598.

    Google Scholar 

  3. G. S. Leventhal,J. Bone Joint Surg. 33A (1951) 473.

    Google Scholar 

  4. O. E. Beder andG.Eade,Surgery 39 (1956) 470.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. G. R. Parr, L. K. Gardner andR. W. Toth,J. Prosthet. Dent. 54 (1985) 410.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Barksdale, in “Titanium. Its Occurrence, Chemistry and Technology” (Ronald Press Co., New York, 1966) p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  7. D. F. Williams, “Biocompatibility of Clinical Implant Materials”, Vol. 1 (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  8. H. S. Dobbs andJ. L. M. Robertson,Eng. Med. 11 (1982) 175.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. J. P. Simpson, in “Biological and Biomechanical Performance of Biomaterials”, edited by P. Christel, A. Meunier and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  10. D. F. Williams, “Biocompatibility of Orthopaedic Implants” (CRC Press Inc. Boca Raton, Florida, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  11. S. Abkowitz, J. J. BurkeandR. H. Hiltz, “Titanium in Industry”. Technology of Structural Titanium (D. Van Nostrand Co. Inc., Toronto, 1955).

    Google Scholar 

  12. R. Adell,J. Prosthet. Dent. 50 (1983) 251.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. M. Steiner, A. Von Frauenhofer andJ. Mascaro,J. Oral Surg. 39 (1981) 140.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. C. T. Lynch, “Handbook of Materials Science” Vol. 1 (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  15. C. D. Griffin, R. A. Buchanan andJ. E. Lemons,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 17 (1983) 489.

    Google Scholar 

  16. K. J. Bundy, M. Marek andR. F. Hochman,ibid 17 (1983) 467.

    Google Scholar 

  17. D. C. Mears,ibid 6 (1975) 133.

    Google Scholar 

  18. T. W. Crooker andE. A. Large,Amer. Soc. Test. Mater. Tech. Publ. 432 (1968) 251.

    Google Scholar 

  19. C. E. Smith andA. N. Hughes,Eng. Med. 7 (1978) 158.

    Google Scholar 

  20. P-I. Branemark,J. Prosthet. Dent. 50 (1983) 399.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. A. D. Atwood,ibid. 51 (1984) 801.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. D. F. Williams, “Systemic Aspects of Biocompatibility” (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  23. R. Van Noort andM. M. Black, in “Biocompatibility of Implant Materials”, Vol. 2, edited by D. F. Williams (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  24. T. Albrektsson,J. Prosthet. Dent. 50 (1983) 255.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. K. A. Thomas andS. D. Cook,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 19 (1985) 875.

    Google Scholar 

  26. P. Thomsen andL. E. Ericson,Biomaterials 6 (1985) 421.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. H. A. Hansson, T. Albrektsson andP-I. Branemark,J. Prosthet. Dent. 50 (1983) 108.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. T. Albreksson, H. A. Hansson andB. Ivarsson,Biomaterials 6 (1985) 97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. L. Linden andH. A. Hansson,J. Bone Joint Surg. 65B (1983) 646.

    Google Scholar 

  30. B. Kasemo,J. Prosthet. Dent. 49 (1983) 832.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. G. Meachim andD. F. Williams,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 7 (1973) 555.

    Google Scholar 

  32. H. Emneus, V. Stenram andJ. Baecklund,Acta Orthop. Scand. 30 (1960) 226.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. P. G. Laing, A. B. Ferguson andE. S. Hodge,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 1 (1967) 135.

    Google Scholar 

  34. R. Toth, G. R. Parr andL. K. Gardner,J. Prosthet. Dent. 54 (1985) 564.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. T. R. L. Gould, L. Westbury andD. M. Brunette,J. Prosthet. Dent. 52 (1984) 418.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. A. Schroeder, E. Van Den Zypen, H. Stock andF. Sutter,J. Maxillofac. Surg. 9 (1981) 15.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. P. Kavanagh, T. R. L. Gould, D. M. Brunette andL. Weston,J. Prosthet. Dent. 54 (1985) 252.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. J. Swoops,J. Oral Implantol. 9 (1981) 412.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. J. D. Bobyn, R. M. Pilliar, H. U. Cameron andG. C. Weatherley,Clin. Orthop. 150 (1980) 263.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. R. M. Pilliar,ibid. 176 (1983) 42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. W. E. Roberts, R. K. Smith, Y. Zilberman andP. G. Mozsary,Amer. J. Orthod. 95 (1984) 95.

    Google Scholar 

  42. E. Barth, H. Ronningen andL. F. Solheim,Acta Orthop. Scand. 57 (1986) 25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. M. B. Weiss andW. Rostoker,J. Prosthet. Dent. 46 (1981) 646.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. P. Ducheyne andM. Martens,Clin. Mater. 1 (1986) 59.

    Google Scholar 

  45. D. A. Heck, I. Nakajima, P. J. Kelly andE. Y. Chao,J. Bone Joint Surg. 68A (1986) 118.

    Google Scholar 

  46. S. Yue, R. M. Pilliar andG. C. Weatherley,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 18 (1984) 1043.

    Google Scholar 

  47. S. D. Cook, F. S. Georgette, H. B. Skinner, R. J. Haddad,ibid. 18 (1984) 497.

    Google Scholar 

  48. P. K. Buchert, B. K. Vaughn, T. H. Mallory, C. A. Engh andJ. D. Bobyn,J. Bone Joint Surg. 68A (1986) 606.

    Google Scholar 

  49. J. C. Keller, F. A. Young andB. Hansel,Dent. Mater. 1 (1985) 41.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. P. Ducheyne, G. Willams, M. Martens andJ. Helsen,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 18 (1984) 293.

    Google Scholar 

  51. D. C. MacGregor, G. J. Wilson, W. Lixfeld, R. M. Pilliar, J. D. Bobyn, S. Shardon andS. L. Miller,J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 78 (1979) 281.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. M. S. Hirshorn, L. K. Holley, D. K. Money, M. Spector, F. A. Young andJ. R. Hales,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 18 (1984) 47.

    Google Scholar 

  53. B. Hakansson, A. Tjellstrom, U. Rosenhall andP. Carlsson,Acta Otolaryngol 100 (1985) 229.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. A. Tjellstrom, E. Yontchev, J. Lindstrom andP-I. Branemark,Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg. 93 (1985) 366.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. A. E. Carlotti,J. Maxillofac. Surg. 9 (1981) 176.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. J. Raveh, M. Roux andF. Sutter,J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 43 (1985) 735.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. J. Raveh, H. Stich, F. Sutter andR. Greiner,ibid. 42 (1984) 281.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. C. A. Babbush, J. N. Kent andJ. M. Salon,Gerodontics 2 (1986) 16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. R. A. James, in “Biocompatibility of Dental Materials” Vol IV, edited by D. C. Smith and D. F. Williams (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  60. P. A. SChnitman andL. B. Shulman,Implantologist 1 (1979) 11.

    Google Scholar 

  61. R. Adell, U. Lekholm, B. Rockler andP-I. Branemark,Int. J. Oral Surg. 10 (1981) 387.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. B. Bergman,J. Prosthet. Dent. 50 (1983) 114.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. P-I. Branemark, R. Adell, T. Albrektsson, U. Lekholm, J. Lindstrom andB. Rockler,J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 42 (1984) 497.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. G. A. Zarb andJ. M. Symington,J. Prosthet. Dent. 50 (1983) 271.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. D. Adams andD. F. Williams,Dental Update 12 (1985) 480.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. H. S. Dobbs,J. Mater. Sci. 17 (1982) 2398.

    Google Scholar 

  67. T. M. Wright, R. W. Hood andA. H. Burnsteain,Orthop. Clin. N. Amer. 13 (1982) 33.

    Google Scholar 

  68. A. N. Hughes andB. A. Jordan,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 6 (1972) 33.

    Google Scholar 

  69. D. A. Miller, R. D. Ainsworth, J. H. Dumbleton, D. Page, E. H. Miller andS. Chen,Wear 28 (1974) 207.

    Google Scholar 

  70. G. Dearnaley,HPA Bulletin (1986) 19.

  71. A. C. August, C. D. Aldham andP. B. Pynsent,J. Bone Joint Surg. 68B (1986) 520.

    Google Scholar 

  72. D. A. Heck, E. Y. Chao, F. H. Sim, D. J. Pritchard andT. C. Shives,Clin. Orthop. 204 (1986) 266.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. A. Sarmiento andT. Gruen,J. Bone Joint Surg. 67A (1985) 48.

    Google Scholar 

  74. R. D. Beckenbaugh andD. M. Ilstrup,ibid. 60A (1978) 306.

    Google Scholar 

  75. H. P. Chandler, F. T. Reineck, R. L. Wilson andJ. C. McCarthy,ibid. 63A (1981) 1426.

    Google Scholar 

  76. A. Reigstad andR. Hetland,Arch. Orthop. Trauma Surg. 103 (1984) 152.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. F. F. Buegel andM. J. Pappas,ibid. 105 (1986) 197.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. A. Moore andH. Bohlman,J. Bone Joint Surg. 25 (1943) 688.

    Google Scholar 

  79. P-Q. Chen, T. M. Turner, H. Ronningen, J. Galante, R. Urban andW. Rostoker,Clin. Orthop. 176 (1983) 24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. A. K. Hedley, M. Kabo, W. Kim, I. Coster andH. C. Amstutz,Clin. Orthop. 176 (1983) 12.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. W. H. Harris, R. E. White andJ. C. McCarthy,ibid. 176 (1983) 7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. K. N. Kuo, S. Gitelis andF. H. Sim,ibid. 176 (1983) 108.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. H. Ronningen, P. Lereim andJ. Galante,J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 17 (1983) 643.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Restorative Dentistry, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    R. Van Noort

Authors
  1. R. Van Noort
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van Noort, R. Titanium: The implant material of today. J Mater Sci 22, 3801–3811 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01133326

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01133326

Keywords

Search

Navigation