Metallosi: What is it and how can it affect our dental implants
On January 29, 2025, I attended a continuing education lecture titled “Metallosi: What is it and How Can It Affect Our Dental Implants” held in Timmons Hall. The lecture explored the concept of metallosis, an inflammatory response to titanium particles and ions, which may contribute to bone loss around dental implants. Traditionally, biofilm has been viewed as the primary cause of peri-implantitis, but this lecture presented new perspectives from orthopedic literature. I learned how the body’s cellular response to materials like titanium and zirconia can influence implant health. The speaker also discussed ways to identify and mitigate metallosis in clinical practice. This topic expanded my understanding of implant complications beyond bacterial causes and added a new layer to my clinical reasoning. It directly supports my coursework in periodontology and implant dentistry and prepares me to make more informed decisions in future patient care.