Metal-Free Dental Implants
Valley Arts Dental - West Orange
While traditional implants are well studied with decades of evidence showing them to predictable and safe, some patients prefer a metal free implant solution. These implants are known as Zirconia Implants and are placed very similarly to traditional Implants.
Who Should Consider Metal-Free Zirconia Implans?
-Patients concerned that they may have metal sensitivities or know for sure of an allergy to some metals, may prefer to choose ceramic dental implants.
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-Sometimes ceramic dental implants are preferable aesthetically because the ceramic post is lighter in color (for example some people naturally have extremely thin gum tissue, so a metal dental implant may present a small chance that the metal could shine through the gum, especially near the interface between the implant and the implant restoration (With zirconia dental implants, any color that shines through will look like your natural tooth, and no metal will show.
How Do These Metal-Free Implants Work?
Dental implant procedures are performed in the office with local anesthesia (numbing of the area being treated). During your implant procedure, the doctor will place a fixture into the bone below the gum where at tooth is missing. This implant then osseointegrates (forms a strong and direct connection to the bone) and the area is typically left to heal with a temporary restoration until a final restoration can be placed. The procedure typically takes less than an hour and there may be some post-operative soreness for 1-3 days after the procedure. Typically, 8-12 weeks later the process of making a final restoration takes place
Are There Any Downsides to Metal-Free Dental Implants?
As we noted, traditional dental implants have decades of clinical use and evidence supporting their use, and remain the go-to implant solution in most cases. Metal-free Zirconia Implants are newer and have been studies less extensively. There are also some restrictions on their clinical implications, and they tend to be more of a specialty product often costing more. Feel free during your next appointment at Valley Arts Dental in West Orange to ask the doctors about any implant related questions you might have.