It’s used in aircrafts and spacecrafts. It’s used in sporting equipment, like bicycles and golf clubs. You will find it in architecture and works of art.
You will also find it in your mouth.
It is titanium, and it is the medical community’s material of choice for surgical equipment, prosthetics, and dental implants.
While not every dental implant is made from titanium, it is the most commonly used material for this ever popular form of tooth replacement. Here at New Albany Implants, we think it is important for you to understand what is going into your body and why, so let’s take a moment to look at the qualities of titanium that make it ideal for dental implants.
It Is Strong, but Light
Named after the Titans, parents to the Gods of Olympus, it should come as no surprise that titanium is strong. In fact, titanium is as strong as steel, but weighs nearly half as much. As you can probably imagine, this makes it a great choice for the aircraft and boat industries that needs a material that is strong, but won’t weigh down the vessel.
It Fuses With Bone
Osseointegration refers to the process in which human bone bonds with titanium by growing into the surface of the metal. The human body exhibits no adverse reactions to titanium. Obviously, these characteristics make it ideal for medical implantation. Titanium is not just used for dental implants, but for pins and plates to support broken bones, as well.
It Is Resistant To Corrosion
When exposed to oxygen, in the air or in water, titanium forms an oxide film on its exterior. This film makes it highly resistant to corrosion. As long as oxygen is present, the oxide film is self repairing. This helps titanium implants stay strong and functional in the human for more than twenty years.
It Won’t Interfere With MRIs
MRIs, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses a strong magnetic field to get internal pictures of your body. The magnetic field is strong enough that it can pull a metal splinter out of your finger. Old medical implants and surgical staples made from metal are a real problem for MRIs and makes them unsafe. Luckily, titanium is not magnetic, which means it is completely safe for an MRI, so you will have no problem getting the valuable medical information you need.
It Is Readily Available
As you can see, titanium is the ideal material for dental implants and other medical uses, especially when bone is involved. Fortunately, titanium is one of the most plentiful metals in the world. In fact, it is the ninth most abundant of the elements in the earth’s crust.
At one time, titanium was considered rare and expensive. Napoleon used it for his fanciest cutlery, and the architects of the Washington Monument topped the obelisk with titanium as a show of wealth. But now, titanium is easier to access, so it is valued for its useful properties, rather than its rareness.
How Dental Implants Work
Dental implants use titanium to make screw that is surgically implanted directly into your jawbone. The osseointegrative properties of titanium allow the implant to fuse with your bone, functionally creating a synthetic root.
The characteristics of titanium make for a secure new root upon which a realistic dental crown will be attached. The strength of this root will give your dental implant all the functionality of a natural tooth. This means you can eat what you want, and you take care of it just like any other tooth, by brushing and flossing.
Visit New Albany Implants
When you visit our office in Southern Indiana, we make it our mission that you have a comfortable, pleasant, and pain-free. Simply put, we will treat you like family. We have pillows and blankets, juice and coffee, and DVD players and headphones to make your experience more enjoyable. And if you have to wait in our lobby for more that 15 minutes, we will give you a $25, either on a gift card or as a credit towards your bill.
At New Albany Implants, we believe no one should dread going to the dentist. There is so much we can do to improve your quality of life, it would be shame if fear or anxiety kept you from our doors. That is why we offer various levels of sedation dentistry. There is no reason to put up with any pain or discomfort while receiving dental implants, so let us take care of you and you will be smiling bright in no time.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.