Dental implants have been helping millions of people take care of their oral cavities ever since they were invented in 1965. They are touted to be the next best thing to natural teeth. But what are dental implants made of?
Before we delve further into that question, it would behoove us to know what a dental implant actually is.
Dental implants are surgically posted tooth restorations your dentist implants into your jaw to help replace the root of your lost tooth. They are a great tooth replacement alternative for people who wish to replace damaged or missing teeth and improve their quality of life.
Dental implants have gained popularity over time, thanks to expert dentists who have enabled people to smile again. These implants offer several other benefits, such as better oral health, enhanced aesthetic appearance, high durability, comfort, and convenience.
So, What are Dental Implants Exactly Made Of?
Now that we know what implants are, let’s look a bit into what dental implants are made of.
Dentistry has made huge leaps and advanced to marvelous levels beyond our comprehension. Thanks to these developments, dental implants today can be made of various different materials with specific advantages and benefits to offer to the user.
The manufacturing of the implant is done in a manner to make it resistant to fracture and corrosion, ensuring that it lasts long and proves its durability. It is also crucial that the materials used to make dental implants are biocompatible in order to interact well with the human body.
So, what are dental implants made of?
Titanium
Dental implants made of titanium are considered to be the gold standard for implants in dentistry. Titanium is the metal that is most commonly used to create high-strength dental implants because it has the ability to fuse as a permanent fixture to your jawbone easily. Studies have proven that this metal helps encourage the osseointegration process.
Titanium implants have a 95% success rate and, if taken care of properly, can last your entire lifetime. Dental implants made from titanium are an extremely popular choice because of their durability and reasonable price.
Zirconia
Zirconia has proven to be a very promising material in the creation of durable dental implants since its discovery. They’re most commonly used for patients who develop allergies to titanium. Zirconia is biocompatible, just like titanium, and has a much higher resistance to bacteria build-up.
Alternative Materials
Titanium and zirconia are two of the most common metals used to create implants. But when it comes to discussing what dental implants are made of, there are other alternatives out there that can be used to create these tooth replacements.
While these options are not considered standard, it is worth gaining knowledge about them if you want to know what dental implants are made of.
Ceramics
Dental implants can be made from carbon silicon, such as some ceramics. Ceramics are technically considered robust and long-lasting, but they do possess some brittle qualities that deny them the ability to function as long-lasting implant material. Therefore, ceramic implants are not considered as viable as other implant options.
Polymers
Polymers are a great biodegradable material that can be used to create dental implants. The composition of polymer implants can be easily altered and set to allow the user to get a more enhanced and aesthetically appealing look. Polymer implants, however, are less durable than titanium or zirconia.
Other Metals
Other metals used to create dental implants include gold, cobalt-chromium, and stainless steel. Almost all of these metals have high corrosion resistance and are highly durable. But none have the proven success rate of zirconia or titanium implants.
How a Dental Implant is Installed
In order to understand better what dental implants are made of and why choosing the right material to create them is absolutely vital, it can be beneficial to know how a dental implant is constructed.
Surgical Insertion: A small hole is drilled into your jawbone to insert the titanium screw that will replace the root of your tooth from then on.
Integration: After the titanium post has been placed and stabilized, the dentist will allow your jawbone time to heal and fuse successfully with the post. This process, known as osseointegration, can take anywhere between three to six months.
Placement of the prosthetic tooth: Once the post is fused to your jawbone and has fused to create a root for your new artificial tooth, the dentist will place a prosthetic tooth or crown on top of the implant. These crowns are usually made from porcelain or ceramic to give a natural look.
Dental Implants – As Good as It Gets
Dental implants are increasing in their popularity as a strong tooth replacement option. This is the reason why researchers and professionals continue to put their minds to finding out how to improve the creation process of dental implants along with their durability.
With regard to the future of dental implants, technology development is only going to get better, and hopefully, dentists and other medical professionals will be able to come up with more improved methods and materials for implants. The regular influx of new patients in this industry and the increased demand for dental implants will motivate the professionals in the field of dentistry to consider other factors and research a bit more into integration procedures. Researchers predict that the dental implant industry will reach a whopping $13 billion in the year 2023.
While we may believe that the current tooth replacement alternatives are the best they can be, the future will likely contain even better options and solutions that can help how implants are installed and administered. It is highly plausible that the answer to your question, “What are dental implants made of?” may be completely different and even more impressive ten years down the line.
Learn More About Dental Implants
All things considered, it is highly likely that most people will end up opting for titanium or zirconia implants.
Getting a dental implant that can complete your smile and change how you live is a life-altering experience. By using implants as a tooth replacement alternative, you can get a chance to restore your oral cavity function along with your confidence.
Make sure to get in touch with your dentist and learn more about which implant material will suit you, depending on your budget, age, the condition of your teeth, and your overall health.
Book your appointment with Dental on First to learn more about dental implants and begin your journey to a beautiful smile.