Biocompatible Implants Improve Your Smile

Dental implants are best described as biocompatible anchors that permanently support crowns or dentures. Dental implants are preferred over traditional bridges because they do not require altering adjacent teeth. Once in place, they are quite durable and can be cleaned and cared for just like your natural teeth.

Dental implants are generally recommended to patients as a way to replace teeth which have been removed for reasons of disease or trauma. Rather than wearing removable dentures, permanent implants are fitted into the jaw, a procedure that is particularly effective for those patients who have no serious health issues that might prevent healing, and as long as they have good bone structure. A dental implant is essentially an artificially placed substitute for the natural root of the tooth.

Until recently, practically all dental implants have been of metallic construction, made of commercially pure titanium or a titanium alloy. Today, natural dentists are much happier with the results presented by the use of implants made from ceramics.

Titanium on Left, Zirconium on Right: Notice the Gray Line on the Gums with the Titanium Implant

Choosing Dental Implants Over Bridges

Dental implants are different from dentures or bridges as they set into the mouth very much like natural teeth and are not removed on a daily basis. Because implants closely resemble real teeth, they don’t generally cause damage to gums and the underlying bone structure as dentures are known to cause.

Getting fitted for a denture bridge requires the modification of the teeth around the bridge which significantly weakens those teeth. In other words, the structure of the existing teeth has to be changed to support the false bridge. Once established, dental implants are more firmly situated in the mouth than dentures or bridges, with none of the shifting that dentures normally display.

Anyone who is missing one or more of their teeth may be a candidate for implants. If more than a few of the teeth are missing, implants in conjunction with a crown or bridge can replace those teeth and function as normal teeth without concern for loss of bone and decay. If all or most of your teeth are missing, then implants may be placed to fix in place a full-mouth denture.

What are Ceramics?

White Zirconium Dental Implant

An all-ceramic dental crown over an all-ceramic dental implant looks and functions very much like the missing tooth did. Ceramic implants provide metal-free restoration, eliminating concerns of allergies and biocompatibility issues thereby lessening concerns for damage to the immune system. The term ‘ceramics’ applies to a wide range of materials that, when compared to traditionally used metal implants, are harder and have higher temperature resistance, strength, lower density and excellent resistance to corrosion. These properties make ceramics invaluable for use in the oral environment where high temperature, corrosion and constant abrasion is ever present. Owing to its biocompatibility, low density and ability to withstand abuse, ceramics are far superior to metal for implantation in the human body.

The zirconium implant is of the highest quality material and the best choice for dental implantation, and the preference of holistic dentists everywhere. These qualities include:

Biocompatibility: zirconium is an inert material with very low allergic potential

Strength: The strength of the zirconia dental implant is exceptional compared to other metal implants

Metal-free: no corrosion, no galvanism effect, no metallic taste, no electronic disturbances

Studies have shown that ceramic dental implants are excellent for making it possible for the bone to grow right up to the implant surface allowing the implant to be held securely in place by the bone. This process typically takes four to six months to completely heal before the restoration can be finished.

How It Works

Before Ceramic Implant is Placed

After Surgery but Before the Crown is Placed

30 Days Post Surgery

The implant procedure requires the artificial ceramic root to be fitted directly into the jaw to replace the natural root. The placement of a single implant can take as little as 30 minutes while several hours may be necessary for other surgeries, depending on the extent of restoration required.

The white color of Zirconia is preferred to the metallic appearance of titanium implants which would leave an unsightly dark line around the gums, while ceramics look more natural. Ceramic implants and crowns also retain less plaque and calculus than metal implants, therefore promoting healthier gums.

The End Results

Healthy and beautiful teeth contribute significantly to the overall quality of life. Ceramic dental implants are recommended to patients because:

* A healthy attractive smile improves self-esteem

* Chewing is easy with excellent biting pressure provided by implant

* Dental Implants have a good reputation for providing reliable and long-standing service, providing 20 years or more with few, if any complications

* Comfort, fit and durability because they are well secured and integrated with the bone and gums

Caring for Your Implant

Caring for your teeth following an implant is very much like taking care of your natural teeth. Correct oral care must be followed such as brushing and flossing after every meal, or at least twice a day. Implants and tooth replacement is an investment in your ongoing health and well-being and ceramic dental implants will give you many years of use if cared for properly.

As natural dentists, our goal is to provide absolute metal-free restorative dentistry which not only includes zirconia implants but crowns and bridges, pressed all-ceramic crowns, porcelain veneers as well as invisible tooth-colored fillings. Ceramic options are proven more holistic, aesthetic and hygienic than their metal counterparts.