Dental implants have been around for about 58-odd years, and during that time, they have successfully helped countless people maintain the health of their oral cavities. That is probably the reason why dental professionals claim that implants are the next best thing for your natural teeth. But what are dental implants made of?
We all know that dental implants are surgically installed tooth restorations inserted in your jaw. These useful dental contraptions replace your missing tooth from the root. Dental implants are an excellent tooth alternative for people who wish to improve the quality of their life by replacing a damaged or missing tooth.
As dental implants gain popularity, people are becoming more curious to discover what dental implants are made of and what combination of materials can make implants more comfortable and longer lasting.
By the end of the article, you will know all about the different materials used to make dental implants and how these contraptions are constructed.
Let’s get reading!
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What Materials Are Dental Implants Made Of?
Now that we have a basic understanding of what they are, let’s look into what dental implants are made of.
Dentistry is no longer a torturous medical field with horrific drilling procedures leading to blood spewing out of your mouth. The dental field has made more advances in the last few decades than we could possibly imagine. Thanks to these advancements, dental implants today can be made of various different materials, each offering its own kind of benefits to the user.
Because implants are created to replace your natural tooth that has gone missing, these devices have to be created in a manner that allows them to last long, keeps them durable, and makes them highly resistant to all kinds of fractures and corrosion. While creating implants, it is also critical to remember that the material should be biocompatible, i.e., a material that interacts well with the human body and does not cause any adverse reaction.
So, what are dental implants made of?
Titanium
Titanium is the best metal for creating dental implants and is considered the gold standard of implants in the field of dentistry. This high-strength metal helps create durable dental implants that can easily fuse to your jawbone and become a permanent fixture in your oral cavity. Multiple studies have proven that titanium helps encourage the osseointegration process.
With a 95% success rate, titanium implants are the most popular and the most recommended choice for all patients and dentists, respectively. If taken care of properly, your titanium dental implants can last you a lifetime. Their reasonable price and durability make them an even more coveted option for tooth replacement.
Zirconia
Another promising material that has emerged to be useful in creating durable dental implants is zirconia.
Dental implants made of zirconia are a highly convenient option for people who tend to develop allergies to titanium. This metal is biocompatible, just like titanium, with a much higher resistance to bacteria build-up.
Alternative Materials
While titanium and zirconia are two of the most common metals used to create implants, when it comes to discussing what dental implants are made of, several other alternatives can be used by lab technicians to create these tooth replacements.
Do keep in mind that the materials mentioned below are not considered a standard. But it is beneficial to know about them if you are researching “What are dental implants made of?”
Polymers
Experts in the field of dentistry are always looking for biodegradable materials to create tooth replacement alternatives. One such material is a polymer.
The good thing about polymers is that the composition of this material can be altered easily in order to give the user a more aesthetic and appealing look. Polymer implants are definitely less durable than titanium and zirconia implants, though.
Ceramics
Dental implants can also be made from carbon silicon, such as some ceramics. Ceramics are technically considered solid and long-lasting as an independent material. Still, they do possess some fragile and brittle qualities that might deny them the ability to function as a long-lasting tooth replacement option. Ceramic implants are, therefore, not considered as viable or durable as other implant options.
Other Metals
Dental implants can also be created using other metals such as cobalt chromium, gold, and stainless steel. All of these metals are highly durable, along with possessing high resistance to corrosion. But the proven success rate of titanium and zirconia implants is unmatched.
Dental Implants – The Future Looks Better than Ever Before!
As the demand for dental implants as a tooth replacement alternative increases, professionals in the dentistry field continue their research to find out how the creation process of dental implants can be improved while also increasing their lifespan and durability.
The dental implants that are being offered to patients on today’s date are definitely better than they have ever been before. With that in mind, if you begin to consider the future of dental implants, it is evident that technology development is only going to get faster, and with that, the speed at which medical professionals and dentists come up with new and evolved methods and inventive materials to create implants for their patients.
Researchers predict that the dental implant industry will reach a massive $13 billion in the year 2023. With the increase in the number of people suffering from tooth loss due to bad lifestyle choices, dental implants will only become more coveted with time, encouraging professionals in the field of dentistry to further their research into better implant integration procedures.
While it is easy and convenient to believe that the current tooth replacement alternatives are the best the field of dentistry offers, the future of dental appliances and devices will likely contain even better options and solutions that can help how implants are installed and administered.
Therefore, it is highly possible that the answer to your question, “What are dental implants made of?” may be even more impressive ten years down the line!
Bottomline
While we can go on and on about what dental implants are made of, it is important to note that finding an implant dentist who can perform the implant installation procedure perfectly is a critical factor in ensuring its success. After all, getting a missing tooth replaced can be a life-changing experience.
Want to Learn More About Dental Implants?
If you are exploring tooth replacement options and wish to learn more about dental implants, you can contact Brooklyn Blvd. Dental. Our dental team can give you all the information you need with regard to which implant material will suit you best. Book your appointment with Brooklyn Blvd. Dental to find out more about our dental implant services.