Titanium Dental Implants
Titanium is the most common type of material used for dental implants, due to their greater durability and because they optimize preservation of bone density. Zirconia implants are an increasingly popular treatment alternative, however, especially among patients who are leery of having metal placed in their body or for patients who are sensitive or allergic to certain metals.
Titanium Dental Implant Components
Titanium dental implants are comprised of the post, which is placed in your jawbone and acts as the root of your new tooth, the crown, which is the part of your implant that resembles and will replace your original tooth or teeth and which encases the abutment and the post, and the abutment, which connect the crown and the implant together. To ensure the health and longevity of your dental implant, it is essential that you take as good of care of them as you do your natural teeth. Just like your natural teeth, bacteria can also collect on implant crowns. When this bacteria is not removed, you increase your risk of developing peri-implantitis, which can result in bone loss around your implant, which can ultimately cause your implant to fail.
Placement of Titanium Dental Implants
The important thing to keep in mind when considering whether to undergo the process of getting titanium dental implants is that this is a process that will take months or even years to complete, depending on the severity of your case and your body’s natural healing ability.
The first stage of the process is scheduling your initial consultation, during which your periodontist will perform a thorough examination and take diagnostic tests to determine whether you are a candidate for titanium dental implants, and if so, where those implants should be placed.
The second step in the titanium dental implant process may involve preparatory procedures that need to be done before the implant is placed. This can include things like a scale and root planing procedure to correct gum disease, the extraction of a tooth or teeth, or a bone graft to restore your jawbone to the necessary density to support an implant. If a bone graft is necessary, you may need to wait up to six months for the graft to facilitate the necessary amount of bone.
The third step in the titanium dental implant process is placement of the titanium post into your jawbone. Once placed, it may take up to six months for this post to fully fuse with your jawbone. During this time, you will be given a temporary denture to prevent infection and provide you with a natural looking smile. This is usually the stage in the titanium dental implant process where your permanent dentures will be fabricated in a lab.
The final stage in the titanium dental implant process will consist of placement of your permanent crown, followed by a thorough evaluation of your new crowns fit, feel, and appearance. If everything is satisfactory, your permanent crown will be secured, and the titanium dental implant process will be complete.