Evaluation of the Metallurgical Composition of Commercially Available Dental Implant Drills and Its Influence on Corrosion Resistance: An In Vitro Study.

The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the elemental composition of commercially available dental implant drills using the positive material identification testing (PMI), its influence on corrosion resistance and longevity. Three implant drills each from 5 different implant systems (Groups I to V) were included in the study. Positive material identification testing, a technique of non-destructive testing using X-ray diffraction was carried out to evaluate the elemental composition of each drill system in percentage and grade testing of the alloy used for manufacturing the drills. Groups I and II had the maximum Chromium content of 17.09%Cr and 16.09%Cr. Group IV had a minimum of 11.67%Cr. Nickel content was maximum in Group III. Groups I and II belonged to Ferritic stainless steel alloys while Groups III, IV, and V were Martensitic stainless steel alloys. Ferritic stainless steel alloy drills (Groups I and II) were vulnerable to corrosion and wear compared to Martensitic stainless steel alloy drills (Groups III, IV, and V) with repeated surgical use. Incorporation of newer elements in stainless steel alloys is essential to promote corrosion resistance and drill longevity.