Magnesium as a Biomaterial: Unlocking Innovations in Bone Regeneration and Healing: An Overview

Background: Dental implants may encounter failure at various stages, ranging from the osseointegration phase to the restorative phase within the oral cavity. The primary cause of dental implant failure is often attributed to the biological loss of bone integration with the implant surface. To address this issue, various strategies, such as dental implant surface coatings, modifications in implant biomaterials, etc. have been explored to mitigate the risk of implant failure. Emphasizing the significance of dental implant surface coatings, this review investigates the impact of Magnesium based coatings on cellular processes and their potential to enhance adhesion and osseointegration. Objective: To review related literature covering different aspects of Magnesium based biomaterials and its applications in oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation. Materials and methods: Electronic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus and Ovid to identify scientific studies and review articles that investigated Magnesium based implant biomaterial. The search included all articles published in English language in peer reviewed journals in the period from 2011 to 2024. The search followed a specific strategy which included combination of the following keywords: Magnesium, Implant Biomaterial, Titanium Magnesium composite, Corrosion and degradation, Magnesium-Hydroxyapetite, biocompatibility Conclusion: Literature searches have shown that magnesium exhibits remarkable properties such as, biocompatibility, osteogenic potential, favourable soft tissue response and mechanical strength, suggesting that it is an excellent biomaterial for dental implants. Magnesium has various applications in clinical scenarios like maxillary sinus lifting surgery and alveolar socket preservation. Meanwhile, there are studies that highlight its drawbacks, such as biodegradation and corrosion. It was also found that most of the studies on Magnesium dental implants are short-term studies and there is a need for more long-term clinical trials to prove that Magnesium is worth enough to replace titanium as a biomaterial in dental implantology.