Dental Implants: Why Titanium?

Dental implants consist of three basic components, the implant or surgical post that is inserted below the gum line, the abutment attachment and the dental implant restoration that is placed on top (crown, bridge or denture). The implant itself is made of titanium, and there’s several reasons why this material was chosen over anything else.

First and foremost, titanium is biocompatible. It is one of only two known biocompatible materials that fuses with human bone, a special process called osseointegration. Osseointegration occurs after the implant has been surgically placed and as the surrounding bone and tissues are healing around the titanium post. Depending on your specific quality of bone, it can take three to six months for this to occur. Once the titanium surface fuses to your natural jawbone, a strong and life-like tooth root is created to stabilize your replacement tooth or teeth.

Compared to other metals, titanium carries the ability to remain strong, stable and inert within the mouth, even under the stress and of persistent chewing. This is because titanium forms a protective oxide film when combined with oxygen. This shield or barrier helps the titanium implant stay resistant to damage, failure and it prevents adverse reactions within your surrounding tissues.

The decision to use titanium in artificial implants is not new. In fact, the material has been used repeatedly in hip and knee replacement surgeries for years. In terms of dental implants, titanium has remained the go-to choice for over fifty years. It continues to show exemplary success rates and durability in terms of restorative dentistry.

To learn more about why titanium is used as an ideal dental implant material, please consult with Dr. Wayne Suway. As Marietta’s most trusted implants dentist, he brings deep knowledge and experience to your dental implants process.