Replacing a missing tooth is essential as it’s the only way to restore your natural smile and dental functions like chewing, biting, and speech. A dental implant does an excellent job of helping you regain the appearance and functionality of a missing tooth. However, it’s essential to understand which type of dental implant is suitable for you.

While titanium implants are readily available in the market, they may have some limitations and drawbacks and, hence, may not give you the desired results. Nonetheless, ceramic dental implants in San Juan Capistrano can help you get over these limitations.

Ceramic dental implants and their benefits

Ceramic dental implants, also known as zirconia implants, are made using a crystalline material, zirconium dioxide. Zirconium dioxide undergoes a treatment that transforms it into a white material, giving it a very close resemblance to a natural tooth.

Therefore, zirconium dioxide, due to its holistic nature, has gained a lot of popularity as a great alternative to traditional titanium metal implants. Following are the benefits of a ceramic or zirconia dental implant.

  • A ceramic implant is aesthetically more appealing due to its resemblance to natural tooth color, allowing it to blend in with other teeth.
  • Zirconium dioxide is relatively safer for patients who are allergic to metals.
  • A ceramic implant is way more challenging than a porcelain and very difficult to crack.
  • Ceramic implant feels less harsh on the opposite teeth, white chewing or biting the food.
  • Ceramic implants are known to be stain-resistant and show lower plaque accumulation.

Metal dental implants and their advantages

Metal implants, usually made of titanium, have been used traditionally to replace the roots of a missing tooth for over 65 years. The titanium post is surgically placed in the jawbone to create a base for the prosthetic crown. 

The crown is placed over the implant using an abutment. Following are some benefits of a titanium dental implant.

  • Titanium implants are readily available in the market and preferred by most dentists.
  • A titanium implant can be highly durable and last for several years without chipping or cracking.
  • Titanium shows better biocompatibility with bone as compared to other metals.
  • Titanium implants are cheaper as compared to ceramic dental implants.
  • Titanium dental implants are considered safe and influential around the world.

Why ceramic makes a better implant alternative

Despite being relatively new, ceramic dental implants are impressive in terms of appearance, comfort, durability, and functionality. Following are some reasons why one should choose ceramic dental implants over titanium ones.

  • Ceramic dental implants show better biocompatibility with the human body by avoiding inflammation, implant failure, or rejection, which are common with a metal dental implant.
  • Since ceramic implants don’t have metal in them, they don’t provoke any allergic reactions, even with delicate gum tissues. It makes them an excellent choice for those who have a metal allergy.
  • The dental rim of a titanium implant is usually visible and gives the impression of a thin grey line over the gumline. However, due to its high resemblance to natural tooth color, ceramic implants don’t cause such problems.
  • Titanium can corrode over time and cause chemical reactions between fluoride, saliva, and metal tooth fillings. It can lead to inflammation and bone loss. Due to the biological inertness of ceramic, it doesn’t react with saliva or fluoride.
  • Ceramic dental implants do not conduct electrical charges. That’s why they don’t attract bacteria and you see less bacterial growth, whereas this problem is highly persistent with metal implants.
  • Ceramic implants can fit in the hole left behind by the extracted tooth, which is why a ceramic dental implant procedure is much shorter than a titanium implant procedure.

Final thoughts

Although the selection of a dental implant is a matter of personal choice, your dentist may recommend a ceramic implant if you have metal allergies or if you need a dental implant that closely resembles a natural tooth. 

However, ceramic dental implants can be a little costlier than metal ones. Therefore, you should visit a trusted dentist for this procedure to ensure that you get the desired details with no complications.