tips for adjusting to dentures

Losing a tooth can be a harrowing experience. And if the lost tooth is positioned right at the front of your mouth, it can make this experience even more traumatic, as your entire appearance is going to change from the conspicuous gap it leaves behind. Naturally, you would want to have it replaced as soon as possible, and the best replacement therapy for this scenario would be a dental implant.

What you may be startled to know about dental implants is that they fall under cosmetic dentistry, as they do improve your smile while restoring dental function. With that in mind, the cosmetic dentist will present two main options to you – titanium dental implants and zirconia dental implants. So which should you choose?

Titanium dental implants

Without question, this type of dental implant is the most commonly used option in the market. And while both types of dental implants tend to cost more than other tooth replacement options, you will find that titanium ones are slightly more affordable than the zirconia options are. Comprising two separate pieces, the cosmetic dentist will implant a titanium screw into your jawbone, and this will be left to heal for a few weeks. Once it is secure, the cosmetic dentist will then attach the abutment, also known as the prosthetic tooth, into the screw, through the gums.

There are serval advantages that come with choosing a titanium dental implant. First, the two-phase implantation process greatly increases the chances of the implant taking, as the prosthetic tooth will not be exposed to undue pressure prematurely. Second, the abutment portion of the titanium implant can be customized to suit your preferences. For instance, rather than having a prosthetic tooth to match your natural teeth, you can go with a gold tooth or other materials.

Zirconia dental implants

While less common than titanium dental implants, zirconia implants are made up of a crystalline material that is almost similar to diamonds, so they are renowned for their robust strength. However, this does not mean that you will be walking around with a shiny gemstone in your mouth. Instead, for dental applications, the zirconia undergoes processes to change its chemical composition so that it looks and feels like a natural tooth. Another aspect that differentiates these two types of implants is that zirconia implants come in one piece, so the screw and abutment are implanted at the same time.

The leading advantage of zirconia dental implants is they do not contain any traces of metal, which makes them ideally suited to dental patients that could be worried about mercury making its way into their bodies. Furthermore, while both titanium and zirconia dental implants are biocompatible, some patients with autoimmune disorders or severe metal allergies could react to titanium. Hence, zirconia would be best suited for their long-term health.

Reach out to a local cosmetic dentist to learn more.