[Applicability of titanium in preparing dental prostheses for allergic patients]

Owing to its excellent biocompatibility, titanium has been used in health care, including dental care, for a long time. The unalloyed light metal is a non-allergic one, it resists corrosion, has low heat conducting ability, it tastes neutral and is relatively cheap to apply. Titanium's biocompatibility may be associated with its fast oxidizing capacity, which can inhibit its binding with proteins. Due to titanium's oxidizing capacity, its applicability in dentistry is difficult, because such prostheses are not easy to cover with ceramics, which is essential for aesthetic reasons. The bond between the ceramic, developed specially for titanium, and the metal surface is weaker than in the case of NiCr alloys or alloys of noble alloys. The strength of the bond, however, meets ISO requirements, and, according to the latest literature, it can be further strengthened by surface treatment techniques and new bond systems. These solutions are aimed at stopping cavity formation on the titanium surface and in the oxide phase (which would lead to the disjunction of the oxide phase at the interface). Comparative studies have mentioned problems with right marginal closure and precision of fitting, still they have found titanium-based prostheses acceptable. According to data in the literature the ceramic fused to titanium, and removed partial dentures are artificial dental structures which may offer an inexpensive, still aesthetically and functionally acceptable solution for certain patients suffering from metal allergy.