What Are Dental Implants Made Of and Why?
TL;DR
If you have diseased or missing teeth, your dentist has a litany of options to help round out your healthy smile. One of the most popular choices among patients is dental implants. This reliable solution has, in fact, only grown in commonality in recent years.
In this explainer, we’ll dive into the emerging world of dental implants. By answering questions about dental implant material and fabrication, we hope to shed some light on this subject.
The Parts of the Dental Implant
Before we discuss materials, we must first break down the anatomy of the implant. A dental implant is not a single object, after all.
Every type of dental implant contains three core parts:
- The implant body or fixture,
- The abutment, and
- The crown.
The implant body is the part that looks like a drill. This piece is screwed directly into your jawbone at the site of your missing tooth.
The abutment is a small metal piece that sticks up out of the implant body.
Finally, the crown is the part that sits atop the abutment and looks like a natural tooth.
When installed together, this tooth replacement can sit alongside your natural teeth only the crown remaining visible! When fabricated and installed correctly, your dental implant can last for decades or even a lifetime. And it all comes down to the methodical selection of dental implant materials used.
With that said, let’s dive into the different parts of the dental implant and the materials from which they are made.
What Are Teeth Implants Made Of? – The Implant Body
As the implant fixture or body sits right against the jawbone, its material composition is of the utmost importance. Anything less than surgical grade materials could harm your jaw, after all.
It’s for this reason that dentists commonly use 100% titanium or titanium alloy fixtures for the implant body. Titanium is naturally biocompatible, meaning it doesn’t harm tissue that surrounds it. Even better, titanium is able to achieve osseointegration easily. This means it can easily form a strong bond with bone, which is what makes it preferable for implant surgeries.
Since it’s metal that’s being fused with your mouth, it’s natural for patients to worry about toxicity. We can confidently say that dental implants are designed to be 100% mercury-free.
And for those of you wondering, titanium is less likely to set off a metal detector than other metals. So breeze through that metal detector with confidence!
What Are Teeth Implants Made Of? – The Abutment
Much like the implant body, the material used for your abutment cannot be just anything. Your mouth requires a strong, reliable material that is low in toxicity. It’s for this reason that abutments are commonly made from titanium, surgical stainless steel, or even gold.
Some abutments can be made from zirconium. This is often recommended for patients who suffer from metal-based allergic reactions or who have high smile lines.
What Are Dental Implant Crowns Made Of?
Unlike the abutment and implant body, the crown forms the aesthetic layer for your implant. It is the piece everyone else will see while you smile and talk. And it is the piece that will be most carefully selected for your mouth in particular.
Implant crowns are designed to look like natural teeth. Dentists often go to great lengths to select a material and color grade that best matches your neighboring teeth. However, they are also designed to be durable, as they will endure years of compression while you chew and talk.
Crown materials are most commonly made from porcelain; however, not all implants are designed equally.
Some dentists will work with a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown. This crown type is comprised of a metal core ensconced by a ceramic outer layer. Other dentists still prefer to work with pressed ceramic crowns, which swaps the metal inner of the PFM crown for an all-ceramic variant.
For patients who have metal allergies, dentists may also recommend an all-ceramic or all-porcelain crown. A bonus for this material is it looks the closest to a natural tooth. However, ceramics are a less tested material in implants when compared with titanium.
Regardless of the type of material used, implants are inherently safe. Patients can rest assured that the materials used in dental implants are durable, reliable, and non-toxic. Your dentist can work with you to select the safest, best, and more visually appealing implant material per your mouth’s needs.
Begin Your Dental Implant Surgery Journey
Now that you know what material are dental implants made of, we hope the entire process is a bit more demystified. Though a foreign object in your body sounds weird, countless patients have noted their implant just feels like any other tooth.
If you are in need of a new or updated dental implant, Paramount Implant Center is your go-to resource for dental implants.
Our experienced team can help you discover single tooth or whole-mouth solutions per your needs. Work with us to help rectify missing or diseased teeth, bone loss, and much more. With our careful approach to dental implants, we can help you get your beautiful smile back quickly and painlessly.
We have helped countless patients develop a beautiful, everlasting smile using modern and low impact dental implant procedures. And we are equipped to help you, regardless of your oral health situation.
Reach out to us to discover solutions for:
- Single tooth implants,
- All-On-4 implants,
- Bone grafts,
- And more.
You don’t need to suffer with a poor smile any longer. Paramount Implant Center in Yuba City, Roseville, and Placerville is here to help you. Schedule an appointment today.