For over 50 years, dental professionals have turned to dental implants to reconstruct patients’ lost teeth. Unlike conventional dentures, implants are structurally fused to the jawbone, creating a secure fit that feels and looks natural. Dental implants restore chewing function while improving speech, appearance, comfort and general self-esteem. For the 30 percent of people aged 65 to 74 without natural teeth¹, dental implants enhance their quality of life dramatically.
Despite their ability to replace missing teeth and transform millions of mouths globally, traditional titanium dental alloys come with several drawbacks. First, titanium implants are largely composed of metal. This is a serious problem for the estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population with nickel allergies – an increasingly prevalent problem² that has system-wide side effects. Introducing metallic substances to the body for prolonged periods of time, as is the case with titanium alloys, is linked to autoimmune disorders, galvanic toxicity, free radical damage, bone loss and implant rejection. These reactions aren’t limited to individuals with known metal allergies, either. Most patients who underwent dental implant procedures prior to the 2000s have both titanium implants and titanium abutments.
In the last 20 years, modern technology and innovation allowed for a complete “metal-free” alternative to titanium alloys and abutments. Ceramic dental implants are widely preferred thanks to no known side effects, lack of corrosion and comparable stability and strength. At Assure A Smile, we offer two types of ceramic implants: Zirconia dental implants and ZERAMEX® dental implants.
Ceramic Dental Implants: Zirconia vs. ZERAMEX®
While mostly similar, ZERAMEX dental implants offer a unique two-part system that is both flexible, customizable and versatile. Zirconia dental implants come in a single piece system that minimizes bacterial growth and promotes bone health.
Whether you opt for ZERAMEX or Zirconia, the main ingredient (zirconium dioxide) is known to promote better blood circulation and provide anti-inflammatory effects to the surrounding tissues. Unlike titanium alloys, ceramic implants are biocompatible and conduction-free. According to a study published in the Journal of International Society of Preventative & Community Dentistry, “some of the properties of zirconia seem to be suitable for making it an ideal dental implant, such as biocompatibility, osseointegration, favourable soft tissue response and aesthetics due to light transmission and its color.”³
Ceramic dental implants aren’t just holistically safe – they are aesthetically superior to their titanium counterparts. With titanium implants, gum recession often causes silver implant screws to show over time. Ceramic implants are white and opaque, appearing more like a natural tooth for optimal blending.
To schedule an appointment for ceramic dental implants in Miami, contact Assure A Smile at 305-274-0047 today.
¹ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs318/en/
² https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/technology/personaltech/nickel-allergies-on-rise-as-devices-meet-skin.html?_r=0
³Apratim, A., Eachempati, P., Krishnappa Salian, K. K., Singh, V., Chhabra, S., & Shah, S. (2015). Zirconia in dental implantology: A review. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 5(3), 147–156. http://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0762.158014
