Tooth loss may result in comprised function and aesthetics, which in some situations has been treated by surgical placements of implant devices to support prosthodontic restoration with crowns, bridges or dentures. Millions of individuals in the U.S.A. are partially or completely edentulous and tooth loss exceeds millions per year.

Early applications of gold, platinum, tantalum, carbon steels and other metallic materials available from industrial sources provided a basis for the more recent evolution of medical implant grade cobalt, iron and titanium metals and alloys. Most dental implants continue to be constituted and fabricated from metallics with a trend towards increased use of titanium type biomaterials. Cast, wrought, porous, surface modified and coated devices are available and recent surveys indicate that hundreds of thousands of dental implants are utilized annually.

Most of these type implants are designed as modular systems including an implant body (into or onto bone), an abutment (transgingival connector) and a crown (intra-oral). Each modular component includes metallics and some device constructs contain multiple types of bio- and dental-materials. Most all components are fabricated by CAD-CAM or cast by the lost-wax method and all are constituted and finished to maximize strength and minimize any impurities.

A combination of research, development and clinical applications over past decades has resulted in significant enhancements of clinical longevity and outcome. Studies conducted following prospective protocols have demonstrated more than 90% implant survival for periods of 10 years with several showing implant survival greater than 80% at 20 years. Some now suggest that applications of dental implants represent a conservative treatment and that one tooth root loss should result in one implant placed.

The presentation will emphasize the role(s) of metallurgical science and technology related to enhancement(s) of dental implant devices during the period from the 1960’s to the 2000’s. The importance of biomaterial and biomechanical properties related to implant compatibility and longevity will be considered from the perspective of what factors have been shown to influence clinical outcomes.