Evaluation of the effects caused by different dentifrices on Ti-Zr alloy and cp Ti surfaces

• Grant number: 10/10685-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2010
• End date: October 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Faria Ribeiro
• Grantee: Danilo Almeida de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of titanium to make prostheses frameworks has increased because of its corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, there are some technical limitations which make difficult the routine use of titanium, and alternative titanium alloys are purposed trying to overcome these problems. The elements to be added to titanium alloys should be biocompatible, and the passive oxide layer created at the surface of these materials is responsible for their biocompatibility. The zirconium is one of the elements purposed in the literature because oxide layer can be created at its surface. So, studies evaluated corrosion resistance, mechanical properties and clinical behavior of binary Ti-Zr alloys. Nevertheless, it is necessary to consider that dental alloys to be used in oral rehabilitation will be subject to degradation in the oral environment due to interaction of many factors. In addition, toothbrushing can cause mechanical and chemical degradation at the surface of these dental alloys. As titanium is susceptible to ions release in the presence of fluoride ions by passive layer attack, and because there are dentifrices with whitening potential presenting peroxides in their composition, which can interfere with ions release rate, the aim of the present study will be compare the surface of an experimental titanium alloy Ti-5Zr and of the cp Ti, after submitting to toothbrushing using dentifrices with and without whitening substances in their composition.