The dental implant is designed to replace missing teeth or in cases of dental agenesis (congenital absence of teeth). The dental implant acts as an artificial root of the tooth, on which the dental prosthesis will be placed later.
What materials are dental implants made of and can there be rejection?
The dental implant is made of biocompatible materials that do not produce a rejection reaction and allow it to adhere to the bone (osseointegration if the dental implant is made of titanium and biointegration if it is a ceramic implant).
The types of materials used in dental implants can be:
- Titanium. It is the most used material for implants due to its high chemical stability and good biocompatibility properties. Thanks to its hardness, it can withstand high loads produced during chewing.
- Ceramic materials. These are materials that allow a faster and stronger integration in the dental implant than that produced with titanium because the union is not mechanical but, supposedly, chemical -something not yet scientifically proven-, producing biointegration.
Does time play a key role in the placement of an implant?
Many people believe that it is not important to replace lost pieces or that waiting for a while does not matter. However, the truth is that time is of the essence, since the alveolar bone resorbs when it does not receive any type of stimulus. When the lost teeth are restored, the dental implant helps to preserve more alveolar bone.
Benefits of dental implants
Among the benefits of dental implants is, above all, the comfort compared to removable prostheses, which many people find irritating and chafing.
Bridges, moreover, must be attached to the teeth on both sides of the empty space. And an advantage over them is that, in the case of implants, it is not necessary to wear down the adjacent teeth.
How to take care of dental implants?
Once the treatment has been performed, the patient must assume the commitment to maintain meticulous oral hygiene and comply with regular visits with the specialist in Dentistry and Stomatology for such treatment to be successful in the long term.