Implants are a popular way for people to replace missing teeth. Now, there’s a new kind of implant that uses a ceramic post instead of a metal one.
Martha Nelson of San Antonio is looking forward to a new smile. More than that, she’s looking forward to being able to chew normally.
“I struggle with meal that are hard,” Nelson explained. “I think one of the first things I’m going to do is eat a steak.”
Nelson was fitted with a new type of dental implant. It’s different from the traditional metal posts.
“They’re made out of a ceramic called zirconia,” said Dr. Paul Wilke, a dentist with Total Mouth Fitness in San Antonio. “And this ceramic is the same stuff used on the space shuttle. It’s very biocompatible. So people that are metal sensitive or allergic to metals, this is ideal for them.”
Using x-ray guidance, the dentist implants the post which is about a half inch in length. The implant will integrate into the bone. That takes six months on top and three months on the bottom. The post will act as an anchor for the final crown.
Wilke said many people like the aesthetic quality of the white implants, since the darker metals can sometimes show through the gums.
“People that have a high lip line or a gummy smile, if you use titanium implants in those areas, you can see the gray shadowing through the gum,” Wilke commented. “And these, being white, they’re very pretty. You don’t see any coloration through the gum.”
Wilke has used the ceramic implants on about a dozen patients over the past six months. He said it’s a good alternative for people who don’t want metal in their mouths.
The ceramic is the same kind of material use on some joint replacements. Proponents of the device say it’s very sturdy.
