Dental Implants with a Metal Allergy
Fortunately for those struggling with tooth loss, there are many tooth replacement options available. Of these many options, dental implants are becoming the most popular tooth replacement treatment. In the United States, three million American adults have dental implants, and thousands more are investing in implants each year. Dental implants offer durability, stability, and security that many other tooth replacement treatments do not. Unfortunately, it is common for patients with metal allergies to assume that dental implant treatment is not for them. But just because a patient has metal allergies doesn’t mean they don’t qualify for implant treatment. Here is more information for you about dental implant treatment, including details on getting dental implants with a metal allergy.
Dental Implant Treatment
Dental implants are posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone to act like a stable root of a new artificial tooth. After the surgery, the implant will fuse with the bone, securing its place in the jaw. Once this fusing has occurred, implants can provide a stable foundation for artificial teeth, a dental bridge, or dentures. The number of dental implants needed will depend on the treatment plan created by the dentist and the number of teeth missing.
Could A Metal Allergy Keep You From A Dental Implant?
The implant post that is placed in the jawbone is commonly made from titanium alloy. So, what if you have a metal allergy — are you out of luck with a dental implant? An allergy is the body's immune system responding to a foreign substance. This response can range from a minor rash to the complete shutdown of the body. Humans can be allergic to anything, including metal. Generally, individuals who are allergic to metal are allergic to a specific kind of metal, such as nickel, cobalt or chromium. Most allergic reactions to metal are rashes that are caused by contact to jewelry or similar metal items. However, in some rare cases, an allergic response to a body replacement piece could result in the body rejecting it.
Metals also play an important role in dental care, particularly in the mixture of metal materials used for tooth fillings. Dental implants are most commonly made from titanium alloy because alloy has shown a strong affinity for bone. Bone cells adhere to the metal, creating a strong attachment between the implant and the jawbone. Even for patients with an allergy to certain metals, it is rarer this allergy would include titanium. Research has shown that less than 1% of implant patients report any reaction at all to the titanium implant. If you're concerned you may have an allergy to titanium, you can undergo testing to rule out this allergy. Once you rule out a titanium allergy, you can move forward with planning your dental implant treatment. Even if you have an allergy to titanium, you can consider a zirconia implant.
What are Zirconia Implants?
Thanks to advances in dental technology, zirconia implants were developed as a non-metal alternative to titanium implants. Zirconia is a ceramic material that is white in color, and appears similar to the natural color of teeth. With decades of research supporting their success, titanium implants have been the first choice in the industry for decades. However, allergies and high sensitivity to metals make dental implant treatment not the first choice for everyone. For these individuals, zirconia implants offer a superb alternative, making dental implant treatment possible. Recently, some patients have been choosing zirconia implants for the many benefits they offer beyond being a non-metal alternative. While there is less evidence to support their long-term success, zirconia implants appear to be just as successful as titanium implants.
Titanium vs. Zirconia implants
While the first implant choice of most dentists is titanium alloy due to their proven efficacy and successful fusing with the bone, zirconia implants offer many benefits to the patients who choose them. Osseointegration, or the process of the implant fusing with the bone, is the most critical step in the dental implant treatment. Titanium is highly biocompatible with the body leading to successful osseointegration. But zirconia implants have also shown to fuse well with the jawbone. While titanium implants may still be the first choice by most dentists, zirconia implants are emerging as a promising alternative to conventional titanium implants. Patients who have received zirconia implants have many positive things to say about the results of their implant treatment. If you have a metal allergy and are considering zirconia dental implants, here are some benefits to consider:
- Superior appearance: Due to the natural color of the ceramic material, Zirconia implants offer an appearance that may be more aesthetically pleasing than titanium implants. This is because titanium implants are darker in color and sometimes this grey color shows around the gums depending on the implant placement. With zirconia implants it is less common for visible discoloration or dark lines to show below and around the gums.
- Flexibility: Initially, zirconia implants were only available as a one-piece implant system, which made their use in treatment plans more limited. With their increasing popularity, zirconia implant designs are now available in two-piece implant systems, allowing for more flexibility.
- Less build-up of plaque and bacteria: Less plaque and bacteria from food debris has shown to build up around zirconia implants than titanium implants. This evidence suggests that metal-free implants may be healthier for the gum tissue surrounding the implant site.
- Good osseointegration: Osseointegration is the critical process of the implant fusing to the bone after the surgical placement. While bone responds well to titanium, recent evidence shows that the osseointegration process is just as successful in zirconia implants as titanium implants.
- Corrosion resistant: Unlike metals, zirconia is resistant to any corrosion and break down over time that may be caused by water, food or bacteria.
- Low electrical and thermal conductivity: Metal is a material that conducts thermal and electrical energy. Fortunately, unlike titanium implants, zirconia implants do not conduct thermal or electrical energy and therefore may be more comfortable for the patient.