Dental implants are quite the commitment. You have to have the posts surgically anchored to your jawbone, then spend up to six months waiting for them to fuse with the bone before you can actually receive your restoration. So it makes perfect sense that you would want them to last as long as possible! If you’re wondering which materials will make for the most durable implants possible, keep reading.
Titanium
Titanium is a unique metal that can be used to make the implant post and abutment (the abutment is the piece that will connect your restoration to the implant post). In addition to being incredibly strong, titanium is also fairly flexible, which makes implants more resilient and resistant to fractures. It’s been considered the longest-lasting post and abutment choice for decades, but is also more expensive.
Zirconia
Zirconia is another material option for implant posts and abutments. Technically speaking, it’s derived from zircon sand, and is more like a ceramic substance than a metal one. This does make zirconia less costly than titanium, which is partially why it’s gaining popularity. Like titanium, zirconia is tough, but it’s not as flexible, making it slightly less durable by comparison.
Porcelain
Porcelain doesn’t fuse to bone as well as titanium or zirconia, so it’s more commonly used to create the crown, bridge, or denture that will be connected to the implant posts. You can think of porcelain as a sort of jack-of-all-trades because it’s cost-effective, hardy, stain-resistant, and aesthetically appealing. All around, it’s an excellent choice for any type of restoration.
Acrylic
As a thermoplastic, acrylic is light-weight, durable, and generally shatter-resistant. It’s an even more budget-friendly counterpart to porcelain, but doesn’t last quite as long. Acrylic materials also don’t reflect light as naturally as porcelain, though make no mistake, it’ll still make your restoration look incredibly life-like.
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with any of your material options for dental implants. When cared for properly, they’ll all help your restoration go the distance and last for decades – if not an entire lifetime. That said, the most enduring combination will likely be titanium and porcelain.
If you ever want to know more about the materials of your dental implants, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist. They’ll be happy to give you all the details so you can make an informed decision about your restoration!
About the Practice
Dr. Deidra Harrison-McClain and Dr. Ravi Patel are your dedicated dentists in Goodlettsville. Thanks to her experience with oral surgery, Dr. McClain is able to complete the entire dental implant treatment process in-house, enabling patients to have all their restoration questions and concerns addressed in one place. To contact Dr. McClain and Dr. Patel’s office for a consultation, call 615-819-1644.