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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Multi-Scale Modification of Metallic Implants With Pore Gradients, Polyelectrolytes and Their Indirect Monitoring In vivo
Published on: July 1, 2013
Titanium micro-particles are commonly found in soft tissues surrounding dental implants
Carlotta Dionigi1, Gyula Nagy2, Jan Derks1,3
1Department of Periodontology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Background:
Dental implants are one of the most frequently used medical devices for therapeutic purposes in dentistry. Peri-implantitis is a severe, microbial biofilm-associated condition, characterized by inflammation in peri-implant soft tissues and destruction of supporting bone. It has been suggested that metal particles originating from the implant may influence the local host response to microbial biofilms.
Methods:
Soft tissue biopsies were collected from implant sites with and without peri-implantitis in 21 patients. Micro Proton-induced X-ray Emission (µ-PIXE) analysis was used to localize, quantify and characterize titanium micro-particles within tissues. RNA sequencing was performed to evaluate potential associations between titanium micro-particles and gene expression profiles in peri-implantitis lesions.
Results:
Titanium micro-particles are consistent findings in soft tissues surrounding dental implants. Their occurrence varies across patients but not between sites with and without peri-implantitis within the same individual. Most particles reside in a 2-mm wide tissue portion close to the implant/tissue interface. The time in function of the implants does not influence the volumetric density of titanium micro-particles, while implant systems do. Fourteen differentially expressed genes are identified when comparing peri-implantitis samples with high and low densities of titanium micro-particles. The gene-set enrichment analysis reveals functions related to the regulation of the immune response and epithelial development.
Conclusions:
The present results indicate that titanium micro-particles are commonly found in tissues surrounding dental implants and are not associated with the occurrence of peri-implantitis.
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