Ceramic Dental Implants in Tustin, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, and Irvine, CA
The Benefits Of Ceramic Dental Implants
Are you an adult who is missing one or more teeth in Orange, Santa Ana, or Irvine, CA? If so, then you may be considering whether or not dental implants are right for you. Of course, some people can be a little put off by the fact that an implant is often made from metal. Sometimes patients have metal allergies or worry that their metal implant may still be visible when they smile. Here at Dental Implant and Laser Surgical Specialists, we understand the importance of regaining a beautiful smile, which is why we offer ceramic dental implants.
Instead of a dental implant that’s made from titanium, this post is made from high-quality zirconia ceramic, which offers esthetic benefits that a metal restoration cannot. You know that once the ceramic implant is placed that you will have a restoration that is truly as close to a real tooth as you can possibly get. Plus this zirconia ceramic boasts higher fatigue strength than certain titanium implants.
The Success Behind Ceramic Implants
With traditional implants, this restoration is often made from titanium because it is biocompatible, which means that natural tissue and bone in your mouth will fuse together with the implant to become one. This phenomenon is known as osseointegration and this is what makes dental implants a long-term tooth replacement.
Of course, zirconia ceramic isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it also offers fast osseointegration and a very high success rate (approximately 97.5 percent) when it comes to integrating with soft tissue and the jawbone. And in terms of long-term success rates, this material also offers less plaque attachment than metal implants, which is key to the health and longevity of your new tooth.
Getting a Ceramic Dental Implant
Straumann offers a one or two-piece implant system. The implant itself is placed into the jawbone during a minor surgical procedure; however, the portion of the implant that will be visible when you smile is the dental crown. Of course, in order for the crown to be placed over the implant, we will need to attach a piece known as an abutment. The abutment connects the implant with the false tooth.
Some implants, like the Straumann system, offer an implant and abutment in one. This negates the need for another minor surgery to place the abutment over the implant. We will determine the best approach during your consultation. While the implant isn’t often visible since it lies under the gums, the abutment can sometimes be visible at the gumline.
In traditional implants, the abutment is metal, which can affect the appearance and attractiveness of your smile. But here in our office we only use ceramic abutments, so that no matter what happens you have a full tooth replacement that looks just like a real tooth.