Dental implants have allowed millions of people to replace their lost teeth with wonderfully lifelike and functional restorations, but you may wonder why professionals prefer for them to be made from titanium. This durable alloy offers a range of benefits that make it a safe and reliable material for use in the human body. Here’s a brief guide to titanium dental implants and how they can help you achieve your ideal smile and an improved quality of life.
Why Are Dental Implants Made from Titanium?
In the 1950s, Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark found that it was difficult to remove titanium cylinders that he had surgically placed near the bones of rabbits. Upon further inspection, he discovered that these titanium pieces had naturally fused with the surrounding bone structure. He called this phenomenon “osseointegration,” setting the stage for this remarkable alloy to be used extensively in prosthetic medicine.
Dr. Branemark placed the first titanium dental implant in a human volunteer in 1965. Today, titanium dental implants fuse with the surrounding jawbone structure to create a sturdy hold that allows them to work just like real teeth.
Is Titanium Safe for Use Inside the Body?
Biocompatibility refers to how well a medical part interacts with the tissue of a living system. People have attempted to create reliable dental implants for thousands of years using prostheses made from gold, stone, shards of seashells, or human or animal teeth. While these methods met with some success, they were more likely to be rejected by the body.
Titanium, on the other hand, naturally fuses with the surrounding bone structure without any toxic effects. Being constructed from this alloy makes a dental implant much easier for the body to accept and integrate with its existing structures. After a brief consultation with your dentist, they will be able to tell you if implants can be a good treatment for you.
Titanium Dental Implants Deliver Remarkable Results
Titanium dental implants are an effective and reliable way to replace lost teeth. A few benefits of titanium implants include:
- Boasting a success rate of over 95% even after ten years and lasting for several decades or possibly a lifetime with excellent care.
- Acting as the roots of the lost teeth, restoring the exercise the jawbone needs to stay healthy and strong.
- Chewing anything real teeth can, allowing many patients to enjoy healthier diets than they would with traditional restorations like dentures and bridges.
- Because dental implants last for such a long time, they can save a patient thousands of dollars that would be spent on replacement dentures and bridges over the years.
Dentists consider titanium dental implants to be the ideal form of tooth replacement. Investing in these modern artificial teeth can restore your smile and enhance your quality of life.
About the Practice
Dean Dental provides the finest oral healthcare available in Washington, PA. Led by Drs. Stacy and Jessica Dean, the staff delivers compassionate care and comfortable treatments in a warm and welcoming environment. The practice offers general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry as well as dental implant services. To book your dental implant consultation, contact the office online or dial (724) 222-2256.