If you’re considering dental implants to replace a missing tooth or even several teeth, you now have choices. Dental implants have historically been made of titanium, but more recently, zirconium has been used with considerable success.
Both are classified as transitional metals; however, when zirconium is processed, the result is zirconium dioxide (zirconia). This material has the properties of a ceramic rather than a metal. Past generations of zirconia implants have had limitations due to increased risk of fracture and the location of implant placement, since they used to be one-piece units. Two-piece zirconia implants have been available here in the US for several years, but the design of the available implants did not meet Dr. Scott Puckett’s criteria to validate their use.
All of that changed in January 2020. Straumann, a leading dental implant company, received FDA approval for the release of the Snow ceramic implants. The Snow ceramic implant system is the only 100% ceramic system available (metal- and plastic-free) since the drills, implants, abutments, and setscrews are all zirconia. This system also meets Dr. Puckett’s criteria for both surgery and restorative care.
Why Move on From Titanium Implants?
Titanium has been the industry standard when it comes to dental implants for a long time and has plenty of benefits. Beyond being extremely light-weight and strong to the point of being practically indestructible, titanium is also very biocompatible. Bone grows and fuses around titanium easily, but as a metal, it may not be the most holistic option.
Enter ceramic dental implants. As mentioned, zirconia dental implants are available in a 100% ceramic and holistic implant system, but do they go above and beyond titanium? Let’s find out.
Reasons to Choose Ceramic Dental Implants
Our Cincinnati oral surgery has seen a rise in ceramic dental implants in recent years for several reasons, including the fact that Zirconia is a white ceramic – it matches your original white smile really nicely, and can be indistinguishable from natural teeth at a glance.
Titanium implants have a visible dark ring at the gumline, and while aesthetics isn’t everything, confidence and self-esteem are important and very closely tied to your physical well-being. A more confident you means a healthier you!
They’re also a holistic option since they aren’t a metal implant, and if you’re susceptible to allergies or metal sensitivity, they’re definitely going to be a safer bet than titanium. The fact that ceramics are biocompatible also means that they integrate with your jawbone at least as well as titanium does.
Why Some Patients Stick with Titanium Implants
Just because Zirconia implants have a lot going for them doesn’t mean ceramic is the objectively correct choice. For one thing, ceramics (while strong and suitable for tooth material) do fracture. So, if you’re a habitual grinder of your teeth, titanium may be a better choice since you might risk breaking your ceramic implant.
The fact that zirconia isn’t as strong as titanium means that a ceramic implant will have to be a little bigger and sturdier, which in turn might mean that you need a dental bone grafting procedure to prepare your jaw for the implant.
Lastly, titanium may also be a slightly cheaper option than zirconia dental implants, although implants themselves can be expensive in general. Make sure to check with your dental insurance provider about their implant coverage and whether the material you choose matters.
Contact Us or Visit Wilmington to Find Out More
Ultimately, whether to get ceramic or titanium tooth replacements is a decision that’s best made together with your dentist or a qualified oral surgeon who can walk you through every single one of the key factors. Dental implants are often the best choice when it comes to holistic tooth replacement, whichever material you choose, so there isn’t really a wrong choice – just a nuanced one.
So, when you’re ready to decide on your dental implants, schedule an appointment with us online to talk with our experienced Cincinnati-based oral surgery team.
