You may have looked at your teeth and realized that some of your fangs need replacements. Now you are faced with a lot of factors before you even visit a specialist to get dental implants in Orange County. That is because there has been a lot of hype around holistic medicine, and there is a good reason for that.
Many patients interested in getting dental implants in Mission Viejo and Orange County are apprehensive before they put anything synthetic in their bodies, and there has been an increasing number of those asking questions about the composition of dental implants.
For many patients, getting dental implants is a huge step forward to improving their oral health, so specialists in Orange County like the one at Aria Dental are aware that they want to ensure they are not doing any harm to their bodies.
At Aria Dental, we try our best to answer all your questions, which can help you make the right decision. So, are Zirconia or Titanium implants the right choice for you?
Zirconia Dental Implants vs. Titanium Implants
Over the years, there has been a steady and fast incline of patients concerned about the materials that come into contact with their bodies and their effect on their overall health and safety. When choosing dental implants, it is best to use the least reactive and least toxic material possible. Plus, you have to weigh in the strength, clinical success, manufacturer quality, and other implant material and design elements.
Throughout the years, some patients and medical professionals prefer to avoid the use of metals in the body. Fortunately, there is an alternative material to titanium, and that is Zirconia for dental implants. Many health-conscious patients commonly ask, “Which are better – zirconia or titanium dental implants? ” The answer to this question is not so straightforward since it is crucial to understand the potential advantages, limitations, risks, and current state of zirconia dental implant options.
What Are Zirconia Implants?
Before you decide on running to the dentist for dental implants, it would be a good idea to learn what they are. Dental implants are essentially medical devices that are used to replace missing teeth. Titanium implants have been around since the 1960s and are considered the industry standard. With decades of clinical success and innovation, titanium implants have established themselves as one of the most successful medical devices, with long-term success rates ranging from 94 to 97%. However, more than 700 companies have made titanium implants over the years, and our market is mixed with numerous low-quality titanium implants.
However, if you are looking for alternative metal-free solutions to titanium implants, Zirconia is the way. They debuted in 1987 but have recently garnered attention with the increasing demand for Biomimetic and holistic dentistry. In addition, only a few reputable companies with high quality make them worldwide.
What Are Zirconia Implants Made Out Of?
Zirconia implants are usually marketed as a non-metal alternative to titanium implants. Zirconia is a ceramic material that is white in color. Many patients are surprised to learn that ceramics include both metals and non-metals. Also, it is important to note that ceramic is a solid material that contains an inorganic compound of metal or metalloid and non-metal with ionic or covalent bonds.
On the flip side, Zirconia, which is also known as Zirconium dioxide, is a ceramic that includes elements of Zirconium and Oxygen (1 atom of Zirconium & 2 atoms of Oxygen). Zirconium is a transitional metal because it has an atomic number of 40. That means that Zirconia implants contain metallic atoms of Zirconium but are not thought to be metal because of their metal oxide structure (ZrO2). The addition of the oxide alters its composition structure, behavior as well as name.
Are Zirconia Dental Implants Better than Titanium?
Overall, this is an idiosyncratic choice that one has to make. Keep in mind that titanium has been around longer and has been through more investigations and clinical studies, and years of evidence do suggest that it is a reliable and successful biomaterial for dental implants.
However, Zirconia is rapidly becoming a promising alternative to conventional titanium-based implant systems. Zirconia is known to have superior soft-tissue response, biocompatibility, and esthetics compared to titanium implants.
Research has also shown that Titanium and Zirconia implants have a similar bone to implant contact or Osseointegration. This is vital since this determines how stable the implant is in the mouth and during function. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of Zirconia implants below:
Advantages of Zirconia Dental Implants vs. Titanium
- Esthetics-Zirconia implants do not have any dark color peeping out through the gums -due to their tooth-like color. This can be very advantageous in the esthetic zone, where titanium implants carry a risk of tissue discoloration or grayness showing through the gingiva (gums) in certain situations.
- Titanium Allergy or Metal Allergy – Allergy to titanium or other metals present in titanium implants is one of the biggest concerns patients choose to go for metal-free Zirconia implants. Although it is extremely rare, allergies to titanium in dental implants have been known to cause problems. Still, most implants are 89-99% titanium, different amounts of other metals are still present. The exact composition of Titanium alloys varies depending on the particular implant and manufacturer. In one study looking at 5 various implants, the following metals were present in addition to titanium: Iron, Manganese, Chromium, Tin, Vanadium, Molybdenum, Zirconium, Niobium, Zinc, Tungsten, and Nickel (Chaubey et al., 2019). Implants should be labeled with their composition, but sadly this is not standard procedure.
- Reduce plaque accumulation around implants – Some research suggests that there is less plaque formation and infections around zirconia implants.
- Zirconia is very good at resisting corrosion.
- It is a poor electrical and thermal conductor- There is no worry with galvanic or battery effects with zirconia implants.
If you want to learn more about our holistic approaches to dental implants, make sure to schedule your appointment and consultation with our holistic and biological dentist. Contact us at (949)364-9600 or visit our website: www.AriaDentalCare.com
We are certified and accredited members of the IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology), IABDM (International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine), and Holistic Dental Association (HDA).
