Hypersensitivity to titanium dental implants: a review

ABSTRACT

Allergy to dental materials represents a growing problem and may go undiagnosed by health professionals. For patients suffering from allergies to metal alloys containing nickel, chrome and cobalt, metal dentures or crowns cannot be used. In such patients titanium implant is the material of choice. However the relationship between titanium dental implants and clinically relevant hypersensitivity has only been recently suggested. Literature reports sensitivity to titanium in about 5% of the general population. Titanium, used in orthopedic devices and oral implants, although considered an inert material can actually induce toxicity or allergic type I or type IV reactions. It can be responsible for successive unexplained cases of failure of dental implants in some patients. This review is an attempt to redirect the clinician's attention about the fact that titanium allergies do exist and precaution must be taken