SURFACE AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF TITANIUM MINISCREW IMPLANTS (FAVANCHOR AND ORLUS) AFTER CLINICAL USE IN ORTHODONTICS: A SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY MICROANALYSIS STUDY

Background:Titanium miniscrew implants (MSIs) are widely used in orthodontics as temporary anchorage devices.
However, these implants are susceptible to mechanical and chemical alterations during their clinical use. This study
investigates the surface and elemental changes in two brands of titanium miniscrew implants, Favanchor and Orlus,
after clinical exposure, utilizing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX)
microanalysis.
Methods: Twenty titanium miniscrew implants (10 Favanchor and 10 Orlus) were retrieved after being used in
patients for at least six months. Control samples of each implant type were analyzed in their as-received state. SEM
was employed to assess the surface morphology, while EDX provided elemental composition data. Flexural strength
was also measured using a Universal Testing Machine.
Results: SEM analysis revealed significant surface alterations in the retrieved implants, including dullness, blunting
of threads, corrosion, and fractures. The retrieved Favanchor implants showed more severe damage, particularly in
the body and tip regions. Elemental analysis indicated the presence of additional elements such as calcium, iron,
cerium, and oxygen, which were not present in the as-received implants. The comparison of flexural strength revealed
a significant reduction in strength for both implant brands, with Orlus showing less degradation than Favanchor. In
particular, the flexural strength for the retrieved Favanchor implants was lower compared to the Orlus implants,
indicating more significant mechanical degradation.
Conclusion: Both implant brands exhibited substantial surface degradation and elemental composition changes after
clinical use, with Favanchor showing more severe damage. These alterations highlight the need for careful
consideration when reusing miniscrew implants in clinical practice, particularly in terms of their structural integrity
and elemental composition.