Although it's a rare occurrence, some people experience allergic reactions to titanium. If you have allergies to titanium and need dental implants, you may wonder if there are other options to replace your missing teeth. A dentist may offer you ceramic dental implants to replace your missing front and back teeth. The material used to make ceramic dental implants is organic, resistant to rust and bonds well with human tissues. Here's more information about ceramic dental implants.

What Are Ceramic Dental Implants Made Of?

Ceramic dental implants are made of zirconium oxide, which is a non-metallic material used throughout dentistry and the medical field as a replacement for metal implants. Additionally, zirconium oxide is widely used in aerospace of its ability to resist breakage. These benefits make ceramic dental implants ideal replacements for you.

One of the most unique features of ceramic dental implants is their color. Because zirconium oxide turns white after it's manufactured or processed, the posts of ceramic implants appear almost translucent in color. The color blends in easily with the porcelain tooth crowns used to cover dental implants. Titanium dental implants may show through their tooth crowns as grey or silver shadows and lines.

Is Zirconium Oxide Safe for You?

Although titanium and zirconium oxide are both biocompatible with your mouth, zirconium oxide tends to be more compatible with your immune system. People develop allergies when their immune systems see something as a threat to their health. Because your immune system doesn't react well to titanium, your mouth may reject titanium dental implants.

However, zirconium oxide is an organic material that lacks any type of metal. The bones of your jaws, gums and other soft tissues may accept ceramic dental implants because of this. A dentist will perform a biocompatibility test on your mouth, skin or some other area of the body to ensure that you can wear ceramic dental implants successfully. Sometimes, patients have multiple allergies instead of just one, so it's important for a dentist to test you before doing any type of dental work.

After a dentist clears your health, they may begin the implantation process. The process from start to finish may take anywhere from four to six months to complete. The exact time period may depend on how many teeth you need to replace with implants and the overall condition of your mouth.

For more information about ceramic dental implants and your options, contact a dental provider near you today.