Most tooth implants are a combination of titanium alloy and ceramic. The prosthetic dental crown (fake tooth) is typically ceramic, and is attached to a titanium alloy screw implanted in your jaw, via an abutment (which is also titanium alloy). A titanium allergy isn't all that common, but there are those with a distinctive sensitivity to titanium. This can result in localized irritation and swelling, various rashes and welts (such as erythema and urticaria) and general discomfort. So if you're sensitive to titanium, you might have already dismissed implants as an option for replacing your missing tooth.
Not the Only Material
While titanium alloy is the most common material for tooth implants, it's not the only material. Many dentists offer zirconia implants, where the three components of the device (the screw, its abutment, and the prosthetic crown) are entirely ceramic.
Titanium Sensitivity
Although implanted titanium doesn't leak as much, it will release molecules into surrounding tissues, and this is where titanium sensitivity can become a problem. This problem simply doesn't exist with zirconia implants. Additionally, the surface of a zirconia implant discourages the colonization of oral bacteria, meaning that a postoperative infection becomes less likely when an all-ceramic implant is used.
A Patient's Circumstances
Zirconia implants can also be more esthetically pleasing than their titanium alloy counterparts, since the entire unit is white, and therefore more natural looking. It's not as though the implanted portion of the unit is usually visible, but can create a dark shadow in patients with thin gingival tissues or bone mass. This isn't the case with an all-ceramic implant, making it the preferred choice for some patients' circumstances, regardless of any titanium sensitivities that may exist.
Receiving a Zirconia Implant
The implantation process remains the same for a zirconia implant, with the implant being placed in your jawbone, then needing to heal and integrate with the bone, before it's capable of supporting the bio-mechanical forces (bite pressure) of the prosthetic tooth that will be added to it. Some caution is needed during this healing process, and while your dentist may fit a temporary crown to your zirconia implant, remember that it can't withstand bite pressure in the same way that its permanent crown can.
Tooth implants remain the most effective way to replicate the look and function of a natural tooth, and having a titanium sensitivity doesn't stop you from receiving an implant, but just means that an all-ceramic unit must be used.
Share16 March 2022
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.