Titanium: The medical metal of choice
The list of titanium benefits is long. This makes it useful for many different industries, including automotive, aerospace and construction. But titanium has also become a staple in medicine due to its corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and innate ability to bond with human bone. From surgical titanium instruments to orthopedic titanium rods, needles and plates, medical and dental titanium has truly become a basic material used in medicine.
Medical Grade Titanium
Titanium 6AL4V and 6AL4V ELI are alloys made of 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium, the most commonly used type of titanium in medicine. Due to its harmonizing factor with the human body, these titanium alloys are widely used in medical procedures as well as body piercings. Also known as Gr. 5 and Gr. 23, These are some of the most familiar and readily available types of titanium in the United States, and many dealers specialize in these specific grades of titanium.
Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V ELI are more resistant to fracture when used in dental implants. The implant procedure begins with the insertion of titanium screws into the jawbone. Screws are similar to and function like tooth roots. After a prescribed amount of time, the bone grows into medical-grade titanium screws, which then attach the denture to the implant.
Benefits of Medical Titanium
strong
light
preservative
Cost-effectiveness
non-toxic
Biocompatible (non-toxic and not rejected by the body)
lasting
non-ferromagnetic
Osseointegration (connection of bone to artificial implant)
remote availability
Flexibility and elasticity comparable to human bones
Two of titanium's greatest advantages are its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Add to that its non-toxic status and ability to resist corrosion by bodily fluids, and it's no wonder titanium has become the metal of choice in the medical field.
Titanium is also very durable and long-lasting. When the titanium cages, rods, plates and needles are inserted into the body, they can be used for more than 20 years. Dental titanium, like titanium posts and implants, can last longer.
Another benefit of titanium for medical use is its non-ferromagnetic nature, which allows patients with titanium implants to safely undergo MRI and NMRI examinations.
Osseointegration is a unique phenomenon where your body's natural bones and tissues are actually joined with an artificial implant. This holds the titanium dental or medical implant securely in place. Titanium is one of the only metals that allows this integration.
The use of medical titanium
Most of us know someone who needs orthopedic surgery to replace a failed hip, shoulder, or badly broken bone. Medical-grade titanium is likely to be the material of choice for surgeons when reconstructing these body parts. As shown in the previous section, titanium's natural properties make it a perfect alloy for use in the human body.
Medical grade titanium is used in the production of:
pin
bone plate
screw
bar
bar
electric wire
post
expandable ribcage
spinal fusion cage
Finger and Toe Replacement
Maxio - facial prosthesis
Some of the most common uses of titanium are hip and knee replacement surgery. It is also used to replace shoulder and elbow joints, and to protect vertebrae after complex, invasive back surgery. Titanium nails are used to fix artificial eyes and ears, and titanium heart valves can even compete with conventional tissue valves.
Surgical Titanium Instruments
There are a number of properties that make titanium a perfect choice for surgical instruments:
It is harder than some steels, but lighter in weight.
It is antibacterial.
Likewise, it can be used in conjunction with radiation-emitting instruments.
Titanium is very durable and can extend the life of the instrument.
It is used in the manufacture of many titanium surgical instruments due to these excellent properties:
surgical forceps
retractor
surgical forceps
suturing instruments
Scissors
Needle and Micro Needle Holders
Scaler
dental lift
dental drill
Lasik eye surgery equipment
laser electrode
vena cava clamp
Dental Titanium
As mentioned earlier, titanium has the ability to fuse with living bone. This property gives it a huge advantage in the field of dentistry. Titanium dental implants are the most widely accepted and successfully used implant type due to their propensity for osseointegration. When bone-forming cells attach to the titanium implant, a structural and functional bridge is formed between the human bone and the newly implanted foreign body.
Titanium orthodontic braces are also growing in popularity. They are stronger, safer and lighter than their steel counterparts. Of course, the biocompatibility of medical grade titanium makes its use in braces more beneficial than its competing alloys.
The Future of Biomedical Titanium
It is expected that the use of titanium in the biomedical industry will only continue to grow in the coming years. As the baby boomer population continues to age and our wellness industry pushes people to live more active lives, it is only logical that the medical industry will continue to investigate new uses for this popular metal alloy. With healthcare reform now a major issue, titanium's cost-effectiveness is even more attractive to those looking to reduce healthcare costs.
