I have heard it is bad to have metal in your body and wondered if it better to get the zirconia implants? I am having trouble finding a dentist who places them. Is there something wrong with them? If so, are there other non-metal type implants I can use?

Isadora

Dear Isadora,

In reality, you could use either one with good results. I’m not sure who told you it is bad to have metal in your body but that isn’t accurate. It really depends on the type of metal and why. For instance, a metal knife in your leg— bad. The iron in your blood, which is necessary to keep you from developing anemia—good.

Titanium, the metal used in traditional dental implants, has been used in prosthetics for decades. It has a proven track record for its longevity and it is very bio-compatible. An allergy to titanium is extremely rare.

Zirconia is fine as well. It is strong enough. One of the reasons you may be having trouble finding a dentist who uses them is they are fairly new. Dentists tend to stick with what they know works. They are familiar and comfortable with titanium and have the data to back up their safety. We don’t have the data on the longevity of zirconia yet simply because they have not been in use long enough to gather the data.

There are dentists who will be more willing to use zirconia. Holistic dentists are one of those. They often search for ways to be metal-free when patients request it.

You didn’t say where the dental implant will be going. If it is on a front tooth, you need to be careful of two things. First, that the dentist making your implant crown needs to be a skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist. Second, the color your dental crown is made will be permanent so make certain you are happy with the color of your teeth. If not, I suggest doing teeth whitening first. That way your permanent crown will be the right color.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Imam.