Metal-Free Dental Implants
Missing teeth are more than just a minor inconvenience. Entire lives change when the mouth isn’t at full function or health. Fortunately, there are a number of amazing ways to treat missing teeth and bring that function and health back to where it should be.
Dental implants are one of the most popular ways to do this. They have been around for decades, and these implants have proven themselves to be both effective and durable.
How Do Implants Work?
The essence of a dental implant is that it replaces a missing tooth with a complete synthetic one, from root to crown. This brings a number of valuable benefits that many crown-only treatments lack.
When a tooth is missing, the lack of root will cause the jawbone in that area to gradually recede away. Replacing that missing root halts bone recession while simultaneously providing a strong and secure base for your new crown.
The replacement root comes in the form of an implant post. This post is placed into the jawbone, where it then goes through a process called osseointegration.
Osseointegration happens when the bone fuses together with the post, making both a little stronger than before. The fusion is what makes the implant root so secure and long-lasting.
This time-tested structure effectively gives you your tooth back, with no need for special or unusual maintenance. Simply brush and floss as with every other tooth, and enjoy being able to bite, chew, and speak clearly once again.
Metal-Free Implant Options
Traditional implants use a titanium post as the base for the synthetic tooth. However, titanium is not always the right choice for everyone. There is an excellent alternative for anyone who has an allergy to titanium, who is interested in a more holistic form of dentistry, or who simply doesn’t want any more metal in their body than absolutely necessary.
We are excited to offer completely metal-free implants. This alternate material is a type of dental-grade ceramic called zirconium oxide, or Zirconia.
The Benefits of Going Metal-Free
- Zirconia is very nearly as strong as titanium.
- It integrates with your bone in a similar way, providing the necessary root structure for crown support.
- Zirconia will not be as temperature-sensitive or electrically conductive as a metal post.
- It can be tooth-colored rather than titanium gray.
- It is biocompatible and non-allergenic.
- This biocompatibility makes Zirconia comfortable and less likely to cause inflammation in the gums.
- Bioceramics such as Zirconia are resistant to corrosion.
- Zirconia has also been shown to resist plaque build-up, thus reducing the chance of gum disease.
