Issues $\rightarrow$ Volume 27, Issue 3 (2026)

Fracture Surface Analysis of the Fatigue-Failed Titanium Dental Implant

VASYLYEV M.O.$^{1}$, MORDYUK B.M.$^{1}$, VOLOSHKO S.M.$^{2}$, and HURYN P.O.$^{3}$

$^1$G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics of the N.A.S. of Ukraine, 36 Academician Vernadsky Blvd., 03142 Kyiv, Ukraine
$^2$National Technical University of Ukraine ‘Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute’, 37 Beresteiskyi Ave., 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine
$^3$P.L. Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, 9 Dorogozhytska Str., 04112 Kyiv, Ukraine

Received / final version: 27.02.2026 / 03.08.2026 Download PDF logo PDF

Abstract
In recent years, the osseointegrated titanium dental implants have revolutionised the field of dentistry owing to their ability to restore oral function. Thus, they have been widely used for decades with high survival and success rates. Such prosthetic devices demonstrate high long-term success rates. However, mechanical complications similar to fatigue fracture remain the clinically significant cause of late implant failure. It is one of the important biomechanical complications that can present a considerable problem to the patient and the dentist. This article aims to elucidate the microstructural mechanism of fatigue failure of titanium dental implants. The fracture surfaces of two types of failed implant samples made of technically (commercially) pure titanium (c.p. Ti) and the Ti–6Al–4V alloy are studied. The specimens of the first type are tested in laboratory conditions under the action of cyclic loading in accordance with the European normative used for the mechanical tests (UNI EN ISO 14801); the other implant specimens are taken from the patient after their failure. The use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the fracture surface provides information about the failure-initiation site, loading history, environmental effects and surface-material quality of the implant body and abutment. SEM allowed confirmation that fatigue is the main implant-failure mechanism comprising a three-stage pathway well-known for metals, i.e., a stable crack propagation followed by accelerated crack propagation with apparent striations, and a final fast failure by voids’ nucleation, coalescence, and growth. Despite compliance with the requirements for the implant microstructure, stress concentration on the implant constructive peculiarities and corrosion damage, which can be induced by the aggressive oral environment, increases the fatigue-failure risk.

Keywords: dental implants, titanium, Ti–6Al–4V alloy, fatigue failure, cyclic loading, implant fracture.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/ufm.27.03.***

Citation: M.O. Vasylyev, B.M. Mordyuk, S.M. Voloshko, and P.O. Huryn, Fracture Surface Analysis of the Fatigue-Failed Titanium Dental Implants, Progress in Physics of Metals, 27, No. 3: ***–*** (2026)

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