Titanium Dental Implants
Dental implants are a popular and effective tooth replacement technology that have grown steadily in both use and function since they were first introduced in the 1960s. Composed of three simple parts – the implant fixture, the abutment, and the prosthetic crown or implant-retained denture – dental implants are also incredibly strong, durable, and attractive.
These benefits are due in part to the unique structure of dental implants: embedded in the jawbone itself, the tiny pieces used to create dental implants are able to function almost exactly like natural teeth, with all the strength and function that entails. They are also aided, however, by the material with which they are commonly constructed: titanium.
Benefits of Titanium Dental Implants
Titanium has long been used in the construction of dental implants primarily because it is strong and durable but also lightweight. Although the pressure created by our jaw in chewing and biting may not seem like so much – after all, we do it multiple times every day! – the pressure that this puts on our teeth and dental roots is considerable. In order for a manmade material to withstand this kind of repeated pressure, it must be very strong but also not weight so much as to damage the delicate soft tissues that surrounds it.
In addition to being strong and lightweight, titanium is also biocompatible, which means that it is able to be used in the body without causing allergic reactions or other problems for the vast majority of the population. Due to this biocompatibility, titanium is also able to meld effectively with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration, which is what makes dental implants so strong and durable. They literally become one with the jaw!
Finally, though no less importantly, titanium is also an alloy that does not rust or corrode. This is very important as rust and corrosion typically occur when metals come into contact with moisture. Existing permanently in the mouth, dental implants are in fact surrounded by moist tissues all of the time, so it is very important that this contact does not promote any kind of breakdown that could harm the health of its user. Luckily, titanium does not rust of break down in this way, and so its use in the mouth is perfectly safe and healthy.
Mini Titanium Dental Implants
Because titanium packs so much strength into such a small amount of material, dentists and oral surgeons are also able to use a smaller version of the typical dental implant called a mini dental implant. These more petite versions of the dental implant are used in cases where the patient may not have as much healthy bone mass available for the implant fixtures to be inserted.
By creating an even more streamlined, thin post of titanium that maintains all of the functional elements of the traditional dental implant, dentists and oral surgeons are able to utilize this technology in cases where otherwise bone grafting may have been required. This means fewer and less invasive dental interventions for each and every one of these patients, all thanks to the incredible strength and functionality of titanium.