The Effect of Age of Titanium Dental Implants on Implant Survival and Marginal Bone Resorption: A 5-Year Retrospective Follow-Up Study

It has been demonstrated that the osteoconductivity, hydrophilicity, and biological capacity of titanium decreases over time, and this phenomenon was described as the biological aging of titanium. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the age of sand-blasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium dental implants (duration from the production date until the date of dental implant surgery) affects marginal bone resorption and implant survival. This nonrandom convenience-sample retrospective pilot study was carried out in 200 implants of 64 patients. Radiographic measurements were performed on intraoral periapical radiographs. Implants were divided into 2 age groups; group 1 = 0-3 months and group 2 = 36-41 months. A P value < .05 was considered statistically significant. Of the implants, 41% (n = 82) were between 0 and 3 months old, and 59% (n - 118) were between 36 and 41 months old. All (n = 200) of the implants survived and maintained their function. The mean mesial marginal resorption measurement was 0.60 +/- 0.65 mm, and the mean distal marginal resorption was 0.77 +/- 1.07 mm. There was no statistically significant difference between the amount of mesial and distal marginal bone resorption according to implant age (P > .05). In SLA surface titanium implants with adequate initial primary stability and a 3-month osseointegration period before loading, biological aging of titanium did not affect implant survival and marginal bone resorption.