October 18, 2021
Dental Implants Materials- An Introduction
We are all aware that dental implants are among the most versatile equipment available for restorative dentist practices.
They are extremely useful in replacing missing teeth and restoring a natural, healthy smile.
The gaps in teeth can cause a shift in the rest of your teeth besides severe biting issues and crooked teeth.
What are Dental Implants Made of?
For many years now virtually all dental implants were derived from titanium, a biocompatible material that is used in surgery of human joints too.
However as the technology is advancing, various other dental implants are now being made from various dental implant materials.
These implants have seen substantial research and consideration of their physical and chemical properties like microstructure and the surface composition of an implant.
The dental implant materials should be preferably biocompatible and should be resistant to both disintegration and fracturing.
Popular Dental Implant Materials
The first condition of dental implant materials is that they must be durable and strong.
The strength of the dental implant materials & their design should be compatible with their physical properties.
The common types of dental implant materials are titanium and zirconia, each having its unique features.
Titanium
Titanium has been considered the most popular type of dental implant material for several years now.
Researchers show that implants made from titanium metal aid the bone to grow right because when placed in contact with the bone and not disturbed; the bone grows next to them. This helps to create a permanent affinity.
Titanium dental implants have been the most popular implants, providing long-lasting results, at a reasonable price.
Zirconia
As compared to titanium, zirconia is a recent innovation, considered as a very promising future of dental implant materials.
The full abutment use of Zirconia implants was witnessed in the early 1990s but titanium implant materials were still in vogue then.
The first dental implant materials-based all-in-one crown was released in 2003.
Though relatively new, Zirconia dental implant materials are steadily rising in popularity.
Also Read: Wisdom Teeth Removal Surgery – Preparation, Cost and Recovery
Comparison
Titanium has been time-tested and proved to be highly successful in both medical and dental procedures. Its versatility sets it apart from the zirconia.
The first choice in all forms of bone and plate implants, millions of patients have reaped the benefits of titanium.
Titanium still remains better than zirconia as an efficient dental implant material.
Titanium dental implant materials and their designs have the capability to be produced in a two-piece system, a separate abutment sitting atop the implant and connecting to the replacement tooth and a post that is surgically implanted in the bone.
The zirconia lacks this capability and is manufactured as a single piece.
Titanium is also considered the best dental implant material because it is biocompatible which closely matches the human body and can fuse with the human bone.
However, the zirconia dental implant materials have the capability to combine both post and abutment in a single unit, reducing the fear of bacteria affecting the gum.
But in spite of this advantage, zirconia dental implant materials & their ceramic designs have not gained much popularity as they have not been around for long.
So, unlike the titanium dental implant materials, it hasn’t seen any tests yet.
Conclusion
Both Titanium and Zirconia implants have their own benefits owing to their unique features.
For more queries and knowing which is the best choice for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Gaurav Sharma at Kirkland Premier Dentistry, who is an expert implantologist with notable experience.
Dr. Gaurav Sharma has 400+ hours of Continuing education from the prestigious AAID (American Academy of Implant Dentistry) He applies for the latest research & advances in dentistry to provide the best dental care to patients.
