The short answer is Yes! Titanium dental implants have been used for more than five decades and are a safe and effective tool to be used in your oral health. Over this time period, titanium has been extensively studied and researched and continues to be shown as a great formula for durable, effective, and healthy implants.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t concerns when placing dental implants. If you are considering titanium dental implants, you should talk to your dentist about some of the concerns or risk factors that are associated with titanium and implants in general. There are some concerns about metals and corrosion, especially when they are put into extremely acidic environments. This means that the success of your implants can be influenced by what you eat and drink. Some patients who had highly acidic diets found that there was an increase in corrosion and inflammation of the dental implants. If this is left untreated, it could affect the stability of the implant.
Titanium is a great choice for implants though because it is less prone to corrosion than many other metals. This means that it holds up better under most conditions than any other suitable substance. Additional advances in dental sciences continue to further improve the stability of titanium dental implants.
Your Body and Rejecting the Implant
Any time that a foreign object is placed into the body, there is a concern that the body will reject it. This can commonly occur in organ donation, grafting, blood transfusions, or other replacement type surgeries. Titanium is used in several of those replacement surgeries because the body does not try to fight and reject titanium implants. Titanium is frequently used in hip or joint replacements. The titanium used in dental implants is also given a special coating that helps the body to recognize the implant as a part of the body. This means that rather than reject an implant, the body will build up new bone around the implant and help to anchor it securely in the jaw.
In any surgery, there is the potential of infection being introduced. This can happen if bacteria enter through an open wound into the implant area, or if the implant is not completely sterile. While your dentist will do everything they can to make sure that the area is clean and free from infection, infection can sometimes still occur. This means that if you have recently received an implant, that you should watch carefully for any signs of infection or swelling.
If the infection is treated early, the long-term success of an implant is significantly increased. Minor infections can usually be quickly cleared up which results in rapid healing and increased comfort for the patient. If you notice any infection or redness around your surgical site, you should contact your dentist immediately so that they can assess your condition.
Talk to Your Dentist
If you are considering a dental implant, it is essential to talk to your dentist about what to expect. Your dentist can walk you through the entire process and how everything will work. Additionally, you should also ask your dentist about their experience with dental implants. You can ask about the number of procedures that they have completed, how many of those have had complications and how they dealt with complications, and what type of training they have had with titanium dental implants.
Overview
Titanium dental implants are an excellent choice for many patients to replace a lost or damaged tooth. The strength and long-term safety of titanium offer benefits that far outweigh many other options. If you are considering dental implants, schedule an appointment and talk to Reimage Dental Studio staff today. You can reach us by callling 480-443-3552.