Titanium Versus Ceramic Dental Implants
It has become increasingly common over the years for health-conscious patients to question the overall health impacts of metals in their mouths. For years, metals have been used in various oral procedures, from fillings to orthodontic structures. One of the more recent, more popular forms of dental care are dental implants. These structures are meant to provide a safe, effective, and stable tooth replacement alternative to dentures. These implants have traditionally been made from titanium and titanium alloys, but in recent years, ceramic dental implants have become more popular as people try to avoid metals in their mouths. If you’re one of the millions of people who need tooth replacement and are wondering what your options are, read on to find out the differences between titanium and ceramic dental implants.
Titanium Implants
Titanium implants have been around since the 1960s. This means that they have a large data set of effectiveness backing their use and success rates. In fact, most research and developments around dental implants have come from the use of titanium implants. Titanium implants consist of a metal, titanium alloy, screw that is installed into the jawbone. Then an artificial crown is attached to the screw.
Titanium implants have several benefits. Titanium is very durable. This translates to infrequent damage to the implant structure itself. In fact, titanium is so durable, when cared for properly, it can last up to or beyond 25 years. As mentioned before, titanium also has a high success rate and bond effectively and safely with bone structures. Titanium is also typically more affordable than ceramic.
There are a few drawbacks to titanium implants though. One of the biggest drawbacks is allergic reactions to metal. It is uncommon, but in some people certain metals in the titanium alloy can cause an allergic reaction, which can lead to implant failure. Additionally, titanium can also not have as natural of an appearance and even occasionally show through receding gum lines.
Ceramic Implants
Ceramic implants are made from zirconia, which is a crystal material that is colored to match natural teeth. Ceramic implants are generally considered metal free, although traces of very rare metal can be found in them. Ceramics therefore are a great option for patients who want to keep metal out of their mouths.
There are several benefits to ceramic implants. The biggest one is in appearance. Ceramic implants look more natural than titanium implants. They also have shown to be effective in their success rates of attaching to the bone. Additionally, ceramic is proven to retain less plaque than titanium, making them a good choice for your oral health.
Some of the drawbacks of ceramic implants include the fact that there is less available data on their effectiveness and long-term impacts. They have not been in use if titanium and as stated before, most research on implants have involved titanium. Ceramic implants are also trickier to place because they are one piece instead of two like titanium implants. They are also more expensive typically.