Tribocorrosion testing for dental implants: A critical review of methodologies, challenges, and a path to standardization

Objectives Tribocorrosion, arising from the synergistic interaction between mechanical wear and electrochemical corrosion, is a critical factor affecting the long-term performance of dental implants. However, heterogeneity in experimental methodologies, loading conditions, electrolyte compositions, electrochemical protocols, and biological complexity limits reproducibility and cross-study comparisons. This review evaluates current experimental approaches and identifies priorities for methodological standardization. Methods The review critically examines tribological configurations, electrochemical characterization techniques, artificial saliva models, and emerging bio-tribocorrosion methodologies. Particular attention is given to experimental variables influencing tribocorrosion behavior and contributing to inconsistencies across studies. Results The assessment identifies major methodological challenges, including insufficiently standardized testing environments, limited clinical relevance of loading protocols, inadequate integration of biofilm-related effects, insufficient in vivo validation, and poor interlaboratory reproducibility. To address these limitations, a standardization roadmap is proposed, encompassing minimum recommended testing parameters, a tiered testing framework, interlaboratory round-robin studies, and a standardized reporting checklist. Emerging opportunities include high-throughput tribocorrosion screening, multiscale computational modeling, smart dental materials, and standardized bio-tribocorrosion protocols. Conclusions This review establishes methodological standardization as a priority for advancing dental tribocorrosion research. Implementing harmonized testing procedures, biologically relevant experimental models, and transparent reporting practices could improve reproducibility and facilitate comparisons across studies. The proposed framework provides practical guidance for developing more clinically relevant investigations and strengthening the evidence base for evaluating the long-term performance of dental implant materials.