Zirconia Dental Implants: A Safe and Biocompatible Form of Tooth Replacement

Among dental professionals, it is universally acknowledged that dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth. However, most practices only provide implants that are made of a titanium alloy. Titanium is very strong and offers some other benefits, but it does have its drawbacks. That is why holistic dentists often recommend zirconia dental implants as a safe and biocompatible alternative. What are zirconia implants, and what benefits do they come with? This blog post explains.

What Are Zirconia Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small cylinders, or posts, which act as prosthetic tooth roots after they are surgically placed into the jawbone. Zirconia dental implants are made of zirconium oxide, a type of ceramic. Therefore, in some contexts, you might hear them referred to as ceramic dental implants or zirconium dental implants.

Zirconia vs. Titanium: How Do They Compare?

It is worth noting that both zirconia and titanium dental implants offer a lot of advantages. However, Dr. Thomas often recommends zirconia as the more biocompatible option because it has a few distinct advantages over titanium:

• Reduced bacterial adhesion. When dental implants fail, it is usually due to a type of infection known as peri-implantitis. It occurs when bacteria attack the tissue around an implant. Bacteria adhere more easily to titanium than they do to zirconia, which means that infection may be less of a concern with the latter option.
• No corrosion or galvanic toxicity. When different types of metals interact with saliva in the mouth, it can cause corrosion and something called galvanic toxicity, which can cause bothersome oral symptoms. This rarely happens with titanium implants but never occurs with zirconia implants because they are not made of metal.
• Improved aesthetics. In some cases, the gray color of titanium implants can be visible through the gumline. Zirconia implants are white, so they offer improved aesthetics.

Are Zirconia Implants Right for You?

Titanium implants have been placed successfully in millions of patients and have been studied extensively. Therefore, you should not view them as bad. However, while zirconia implants are somewhat newer, they offer some promising advantages that are simply not available with titanium. Dr. Thomas and the specialists whom she partners with would be happy to help you compare all of your tooth replacement options so you can make a well-informed decision about how to rebuild your smile.

Meet Dr. Thomas

Dr. Preetha Thomas is an experienced, highly accomplished holistic dentist who is proud to serve the Southlake area. She partners with local specialists to provide comprehensive dental implant services. If you would like to replace your lost teeth, Dr. Thomas and our team would be happy to help you get started on your journey to regaining a complete and healthy smile. Contact Enclave Dental at 817-912-1218.