The first U.S. FDA-approved dental implant made with nanotitanium, a metal that is stronger than conventional alloys and integrates much more quickly with human bone, will be installed this week in the mouth of the scientist who helped develop it.
Terry Lowe, Ph.D., chief scientist at dental implant manufacturer Manhattan Scientifics, will receive the 10-minute, nanotitanium implant procedure to replace a molar on October 14 at the company's Albuquerque, NM, headquarters, the company announced.
The implant is manufactured and distributed by Basic Dental in Albuquerque under a nonexclusive license limited to dental implants. Manhattan Scientifics has also issued a broader exclusive license to an unnamed company to cover other medical and nonmedical applications for the new class of metals.
"The new metal is not only a stronger material but it allows for integration with human bone in half the amount of time compared to conventional metals," Lowe said in a press release. "For patients receiving this new generation of medical implant, the result is faster postsurgery healing as well as replacement devices that are more reliable and longer-lasting."
The major advantage of nanotitanium is that it is not an alloy but rather enhanced, pure titanium that is modified to match human bone, he noted.
"No fancy coatings or special alloys are needed -- which is why we expect it to outlast conventional implants," Lowe said. It's also much easier for dentists to work with than conventional alloy implants, he added.
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