Titanium Implants Vs Zirconium Dental Implants
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
Today you can get a wide variety of options in Implant Dentistry to restore your missing teeth. Until 1987, titanium implants were deployed for dental restoration works. The boom in Dentistry brought Zirconia implants which do not have the limitations in the titanium implants.
Even though zirconium implants function same as titanium implants, their salient features made them highly preferable for teeth restorations.
What are Zirconia Implants?
As the name suggests, the fake tooth is made up of Zirconium which is a non-metal, It has the crystal structure and contains both the metallic and non-metallic atoms. The zirconia comes in the form of zirconium oxide. The oxide present in the element changes its properties and make it as non-metal.
In contrast, Titanium is a metal and the patient can get a metallic color tooth with titanium implants. Zirconia implants help to get a white color false tooth as the raw material is a non-metal.
Are zirconia implants better than Titanium Implants?
Every Dentist wants to insert a least toxic and least reactive artificial substance as possible. Remember that both titanium and zirconia are bioinert materials. Hence they will be accepted by the body.
It assures that titanium does not cause side effects. Even though titanium implants are highly corrosive, our bones also integrate with the metal.
The main defect associated with titanium implants is conflicts like allergic reactions, gum recession and other hazards with titanium. Such cases are rare and depend on the health condition of the patient.
Dental Researchers found that if a person is encountering allergic reactions due to the excess of immune system contact with the substance, then he/she will experience titanium hypersensitivity.
The patient does not encounter such issues in zirconia implants but they are highly prone to crack or break if we try to replace it. Similarly, the process of osseointegration takes longer time in zirconia dental implants when compared to titanium implants.
Factors that make patients to prefer Zirconia dental implants
Apart from the discussed cons of zirconia implants, they have few advantages over titanium implants. It is explained as follows:
- Aesthetics – It opts for people who have thin gums. People with thin gums will suffer from gum recession after inserting a titanium implant. It is followed by making the gum region appears in metallic color which affects the patient’s smile aesthetics.
- Durability – Zirconia is also hard as well as titanium. It lasts long for more than 10 years. This restores the strength and chewing ability with the implants. When we compared to titanium, it has a shorter span because zirconia fractures are possible.
- Resistance – Unlike Titanium, Zirconia is non-corrosive and a biocompatible material. Hence it cannot get corroded and cause dental implant infection in the surrounding regions.
- Fewer Discomforts – As Zirconia is hypoallergenic, it does not cause allergic reactions and teeth sensitivity after placing the implants.
- Less invasive surgery – Minimum surgical procedure is required to replace a missing tooth root with zirconia crown but the process of fusing with the jaw bone takes much time.
Both Titanium and Zirconia crowns have their pros and cons. They are less toxic and does not cause inflammation.
Even though the zirconia restorations help us to get back the natural looking smile, Dentists and Implantologists suggest Titanium dental implants because of their toughness and effectively replacing the missing tooth root.
If you feel scared or hesitate to get titanium implants because of their allergic reactions, it can be resolved with advanced Dentistry. Inserting implants with computer-guided 3D surgery will help one to overcome or prevent such allergic reactions caused by the metal implants.
