People who need to replace one or more missing teeth may find dental implants a preferable alternative to traditional removable dentures. Designed to fuse with the jawbone, the metal implant posts serve as replacement tooth roots creating a strong foundation upon which permanent crowns or dentures can be mounted. Implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth providing the patient with a long-lasting restoration.
Titanium has long been the material of choice in dental implants and has been used extensively since the 1960s in the United States. This article will examine some of the reasons why titanium is widely used in dental implants.
Titanium Dental Implant Components
A dental implant is composed of three parts:
- The Implant: The small titanium post that is placed directly in the jawbone that acts as replacement tooth roots. Once fused with the jawbone, this creates the sturdy foundation on which a replacement tooth can be mounted.
- The Abutment: A connector that screws onto the implant and links with the restorative crown.
- The Crown: The white, prosthetic replacement tooth. Typically made of ceramic, the crown looks and functions like a natural tooth.
Benefits of Using Titanium for Dental Implants
- Superior Biocompatibility: The process where the jawbone and dental implant fuse together, called osseointegration, is critical to the long-term success of an implant. In addition to being nontoxic, titanium has superior fusion capabilities that allow implants to remain in place for 30 or more years.
- Minimally Corrosive: Titanium is included in a class of corrosion-resistant alloys. By forming a layer of protective titanium dioxide, titanium resists corrosion making it more difficult for chemicals and water to penetrate. This further contributes to the long-term effectiveness of the material in dental implants.
- Sturdy and Strong: Despite being incredibly lightweight, titanium’s strength is superior to steel and maintains its shape under bending forces.
- Proven Efficacy: With several decades of clinical research, development, and innovation, titanium has a proven track record of success when used in dental implants. While implants are available in non-metallic materials, such as the ceramic Zirconia, the long-term efficacy of these materials is less well-known. While initial data suggests that Zirconia may fuse with bone equally well as titanium, the possibility of complications or implant failure may be greater with other materials than it is with titanium.
- Wide Variety of Components and Applications: Because they have been used longer, there is an abundance of titanium dental implant components available for dentists to choose from. The variety also allows a greater degree of flexibility for complex cases where conventional implants may not be an option.
Considerations for Patients with Metal Allergies
Despite being exceptionally rare and occurring in less than 1 percent of patients, some people may experience allergic reactions to the alloys used in titanium dental implants. Some signs and effects of titanium allergy include:
- Erythema – redness of tissues surrounding the implant
- Urticaria – hives or bumps on the gums
- Eczema – itchy or inflamed gums
- Pain or swelling
- Necrosis – death of tissue or cells around an implant
- Bone loss
- Toxic reaction
- Rejection of the implant