When considering dental implants, one might wonder what materials make up their construction.
This blog post will delve into their components and the materials that comprise them.
Table of Contents
What Are Dental Implants Made Of
Let’s first define what dental implants are. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots resembling screws implanted into your jawbone to hold artificial replacement teeth or bridges securely and provide long-term relief from missing or chronic dental issues, injuries or illnesses. An implant consists of three parts: its body (implant), an abutment and crown.
Implant Material
What Are Dental Implants Made Of? Titanium is the metal most often used to create dental implants, which has many advantageous characteristics when placed into a jawbone, including compatibility with human biology, durability and resistance to corrosion.
Titanium also meets biocompatibility standards, meaning it won’t harm living tissue – another advantage being its ability to osseointegrate or fuse with bone for a secure foundation for tooth replacements.
Zirconia implants have become increasingly popular.
Zirconia (zirconium dioxide) is a ceramic material with exceptional durability and natural tooth-like shades, which may make this choice appealing from an aesthetic standpoint.
Section is located the Abutment Material.
Abutments serve to connect an implant and its artificial tooth.
Abutments may be constructed of various materials such as titanium, zirconia, gold or ceramics – however titanium and zirconia tend to be the most widely-used due to their strength and biocompatibility.
Affective considerations and the location of an implant play a factor when selecting an abutment material for implants.
Titanium might be best suited for back-of-mouth implants where strength is important, while for front-of-mouth implants where aesthetics take priority over strength, zirconia may be chosen as the material.
The Crown Material
Crowns, artificial teeth that can be seen inside of your mouth, can be made out of various materials – porcelain, porcelain fused-to-metal, ceramics and zirconia among them.
Porcelain crowns have long been recognized for their ability to replicate the natural translucency of tooth enamel, making them suitable for front teeth.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns offer natural porcelain look combined with metal strength – ideal for back teeth.
Zirconia crowns have gained greater adoption due to both their strength and aesthetic appeal.
Material Sensitivities and Allergies
Though rare, some individuals may develop allergies or sensitivities to certain materials used for dental implants.
Titanium allergies tend to be rare while zirconia usually proves hypoallergenic – however if you know of any metal or ceramic allergies it would be prudent to discuss this matter with your dentist in order to select appropriate materials for implants.
Conclusion
As for what dental implants are made from, numerous biocompatible and long-lasting materials are utilized.
They’re chosen based on strength, longevity and aesthetic properties – essential factors in any successful implant procedure.
For those considering dental implants for themselves or a loved one, knowing exactly what materials make up these devices will give you peace of mind during the process and provide invaluable information that you can discuss with their dental provider.
