Titanium vs Zirconia Dental Implants

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Titanium or Zirconium

Dr. Rahmani only uses top-quality titanium or zirconium dental implants from Straumann, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. The largest and most advanced dental implant company in the world.

This article focuses on comparing the two most common types of implants: zirconia vs metal. It will help to determine which one is going to be the right option for you.

Titanium Implants

  • Metal-Based
  • Biocompatible
  • Coated to prevent corrosion
  • Post coated with hydroxyapatite

Zirconium Implants

  • Non-metal based
  • Helps to discourage the buildup of plaque and tartar around the implant
  • Lower the risk of gum disease
  • Cosmetically pleasing result due to the natural white tooth color of this material
Titanium vs Zirconium Implants

Why Are Dental Implants Made from Titanium?

Why Are Dental Implants Made from Titanium?

Most dental implants including mini dental implants, single tooth implants, and full dental implants we are using in the NYC Dental Implant Center, are made from titanium. This metal has numerous beneficial qualities and is widely used in the medical industry.

Unlike other metals, dental implants made of titanium are highly biocompatible with the body and are very unlikely to be rejected.

The dental implant coating prevents corrosion so it cannot be harmed by any bacteria, acids, or salts in the mouth. Once in place, new bone cells will grow on and around the implant, and the post inserted into the jawbone may be specially treated to encourage this action.

An implant post can be sprayed with plasma or is etched to create a greater surface area to bond with the bone. It can also be coated with hydroxyapatite, a substance that is found in natural bone.

Allergy to Dental Implants

There are very few cases when people are allergic to titanium dental implants. It is difficult to test for accurately, but it is possible that a very tiny percentage of people may have an allergic reaction to titanium implants or one of the metals used in titanium alloy. In addition to that, there are no documented cases of patients being allergic to Zirconia.

Titanium dental implants are typically produced from Titanium Alloy. It is a combination of a few metals that include small amounts of Nickle, Vanadium, and Aluminum. Only a few people who have an allergy to titanium implants are typically allergic to the small amount of Nickle, which is found in Titanium Alloy. Specialists advise making use of the MELISA test for people with a history of metal allergies.

Our dental office only uses top-quality dental implants from well-known dental companies. These have been extensively tested for strength and safety and are made from top-quality medical-grade titanium or titanium alloy, the same materials used for other bone implants and orthopedic joint replacements.

Ensuring these top-quality implants are correctly inserted can significantly minimize the potential risk of implant corrosion or failure.

Have Metal Allergies? Use Zirconia Implants

If you already have metal allergies or sensitivities or are concerned about the prospect of having any metal in your mouth. In that case, zirconia metal-free dental implants might be a possible option. These are extensively tested and are FDA approved. Zirconia Implants have been used in Europe for many years.

When Should I Choose a Zirconium Dental Implant?

dental implant before after

Zirconium dental implants are metal-free. Zirconia is an incredibly strong, solid all-ceramic material already widely used to create crowns and bridges. It is another material with a high level of biocompatibility.

Holistic Approach to Dental Health

Many patients view zirconium dental implants as a more holistic approach to dental health, particularly for anyone who does not wish to have any metal in their body.

Some periodontists favor using zirconia dental implants as the design helps to discourage the buildup of plaque and tartar around the implant and could help lower the risk of gum disease.

Additionally, zirconia implants can offer a more cosmetically pleasing result due to this material’s natural white tooth color.

What About the Cost?

Because titanium dental implants are more widely produced, the costs tend to be more reasonable, whereas ceramic dental implants are a more specialized product reflected in the price.

If you want a zirconia dental implant, it will likely be more expensive, but it is worth checking with your insurance company to see if they cover the cost or at least part of the cost of dental implant surgery.

Insurance Coverage

Initially, insurance companies classified dental implant surgery as a cosmetic procedure, but now it’s more widely recognized as an essential service. As such, more dental insurance companies are covering at least a portion of the costs, for example, the implant crown.

While you may not be able to claim the entire cost back, it could take the sting out of treatment. Also, dental implants can look amazing, so any additional costs are almost certainly worth it.

If you choose an experienced and highly trained implant dentist such as Dr. Rahmani and look after your dental implant correctly, you should be able to enjoy the results for years or even for life.

Zirconia Dental Implants

In simple terms, dental implants are tooth root replacements capped with a ceramic dental crown. An abutment is used to connect the crown to the implant.

Zirconia implants are considered new to the implant market. Zirconia implants have been used in America since 2007 and Europe since the late 1980s.

Titanium implants have been used in America since the 1960s. Both types of implants offer high acceptance rates with the body promoting Osseointegrations, meaning that the bone can grow around the implant material just as it does around the natural tooth roots.

Like titanium dental implants, zirconia implants integrate exceptionally well with the jawbone and are highly biocompatible and hypoallergenic.

Initially, zirconia dental implants tended to be in a single unit that included the implant post and the abutment, but nowadays, some two-piece zirconia dental implants are available. It gives a dentist a higher degree of control over a few elements of the entire implant process.

According to the study to evaluate implant survival, peri-implant marginal bone loss, technical, and biological complications as well as aesthetic outcomes of zirconium tooth implants in clinical studies published on pubmed: “Performance and Outcome of Zirconia Dental Implants in Clinical Studies: A Meta-Analysis” zirconia implants showed similar 1- and 2-year mean survival rates and marginal bone loss after 1 year compared with published data for titanium implants.

Zirconia Ceramic Material Resistant to Plaque

Also, the smooth ceramic material of zirconia is quite resistant to plaque, so it can be a more hygienic solution, especially when a one-piece dental implant is chosen.

Another factor is to consider when selecting your dental implant system is its location in the mouth. For example, if you need to replace a front tooth, a zirconia dental implant could be a better solution. Zirconia’s natural white color can be more suitable in specific situations where aesthetics is critical.

Some people have naturally thinner gum tissue and where the metal color of the titanium alloy implant could shine through, which wouldn’t be very appealing when restoring a front tooth. Zirconia eliminates these problems, ensuring a high-quality outcome.

Patient
Testimonials

★★★★★

Dr. Rahmani and his whole staff will make you feel safe and comfortable the moment you step into their office. The personal care they give to their patients is obvious and means so much. The reception staff are amazing and so organized. Dr. Rahmani has called me personally multiple times to check in on my healing/recovery and it means a great deal. GET ALL YOUR DENTAL WORK DONE HERE.

Meredith Jones

★★★★★

Felt really insecure about my smile and was nervous/reluctant coming in. But after talking with the team and Dr. Rahmani I felt much more relieved and secure about the procedure. Great service over all and way more confident about my smile. Highly recommend!!

Nelson Wu

Which option is better: Zirconia or Titanium?

Each type has its advantages and disadvantages and the decision is normally taken after getting to know a patient’s goals and concerns. However, you still need to consider the aspects listed below.

  • Cost. Without any doubt the cost of manufacturing zirconia us much higher compared to titanium, therefore leading to higher cost. The cost of titanium implants typically ranges between $300 and $500 and the cost of a zirconia implant varies between $500 and $600. You should also have it clear that this is not a final cost because it does not include expenses associated with consultation, imagining, mapping, surgery, materials, and after-care that could account for $3000 to $6000 in total per implant.
  • Ease of applying. It has been quite some time since titanium implants have been the standard in care for tooth replacement and more and more people are getting committed to this option instead of dental dentures for multiple tooth replacements. They have become very common and are considered easy for dentists to insert without any complications (unless insufficient bone density and health). On the other side, the surgical placement of zirconia has proven to be more challenging. The vast majority of zirconia implants are single pieces, thus cannot be placed completely under the gums. They are also difficult to be placed at an angle. It is highly important to be able to place the implant at a slight angle because due to teeth profile and bone density an implant’s optimal position is slightly off-centered. It should be also said that there are two-piece models that are easier to place but they have not been widely tested.
  • Aesthetics. Titanium produces great results for the majority of patients. Although, there are still people who are highly concerned about developing a visible grey line under the gums or along the tooth ridge. In case if the patient has a thin bone or gum tissue, the abutment of the dental implant can be produced from ceramic. In this case, no grey metal will show through. When it comes to zirconia, it is known for its aesthetics. It has a white tooth color, which looks extremely natural and does not show through gum tissue.
  • Strength. Titanium implants are known for being extremely strong and having high flexural properties and fracture resistance. On the other side, Zirconia has a lower level of elasticity, which potentially leads to microfractures. A lower elasticity can lead to microfractures, but it’s worth bearing in mind that zirconia is an incredibly durable material already widely used for dental restorations, including crowns and bridges. But they are also considered very strong and hard.

Most implant dentists suggest using titanium dental implants as they have been serving the dental and medical industry for many years and have already proven their reliability.

When it comes to zirconia implants, their long-term success is yet to be proven. It is advised to contact your local dentist first in order to determine whether you are the right candidate for dental implants and what are the available options for you.

MELISA Melisa Testing for Metal Hypersensitivity

Deciding which solution is best may be straightforward if you have allergies or sensitivities to metal. If you aren’t sure about any allergies, ask your implant dentist about MELISA testing.

MELISA is a test that can accurately determine any sensitivities to specific metals, which may dictate your choice of material, although an allergy to titanium is extremely rare. Otherwise, if you are fine with having metal in your body, it could be more of an aesthetic decision. Your dental implant dentist should discuss each solution with you and recommend which is most suitable based on your medical and dental health.

When you visit the NYC Dental Implants center for your initial consultation, Dr. Rahmani can discuss both options with you in greater detail and will help you decide on the best dental implants material option for your needs.

If you have any questions regarding Titanium or Zirconia Implants or to make an appointment with the best-rated dental implant specialist Dr. Rahmani, please call our Midtown Manhattan dental implants center:

NYC Dental Implants Center
121 East 60th St Ste 6C2
New York, New York 10065
(60th St. btw Park Ave / Lex Ave)
212-256-0000

Page Updated on Oct 17, 2023 by
Dr. Rahmani
(
Implant Dentist
) of
NYC Dental Implants Center
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