Dental implants are an indispensable part of modern dentistry. If teeth are missing, implants take over the function of natural tooth roots. They form the base on which the tooth crown is anchored and provide a permanent solution to missing teeth. Dental implants hardly inferior in function and appearance of real teeth. Therefore, the artificial roots of classical bridges and prostheses are becoming more and more important. Every year more than 800,000 dental implants are used in Germany. An implant today usually consists of titanium, but also special ceramic is used. Both materials have their advantages and disadvantages. You can find out what these are and what else there is to know about implants here.
What is a titanium implant?
A titanium implant is a cylindrical or conical titanium pin that the dentist uses to replace a missing tooth root in the jawbone. Most of the pin has a ribbed surface, which resembles a screw thread. This special surface structure facilitates firm ingrowth into the jawbone.
During the healing phase, the titanium implant completely bonds to the bone substance. After this time, the patient receives a custom tooth crown. Inside the implant body is a thread. To fix the tooth crown, the dentist screws in a so-called implant post. It serves as a connector on which the implantologist later fixes the crown.
When are titanium implants used?
Dental implants are not only suitable for individual tooth gaps. They offer advantages for the patient, especially with several missing teeth. Implants do not require additional anchoring to adjacent teeth, such as a bridge - eliminating the grinding of healthy tooth substance for attachment of retaining elements. Even toothless patients benefit from implants. Modern implantology offers the possibility of fixed restorations anchoring on only 4 to 6 implants per jaw.
There may not be enough bone in the jaw to secure the implants securely. This is usually the case when tooth gaps have existed for a long time - but also when the patient is toothless and has worn a removable denture for a long time. In the absence of teeth, less pressure is exerted on the jawbone during chewing and it gradually forms. The dentist performs a bone formation (augmentation) before inserting the implants.
The structure is done with its own bone material, which is taken from elsewhere. The use of body friendly bone substitute material is possible.
The material Titanium
Titanium is a durable and extremely resistant precious metal. The material is considered tissue-friendly and very well tolerated and is one of the best tolerated materials for implants. It is no coincidence that titanium has long been used in cardiac pacemakers and joint prostheses such as artificial hip joints. Titanium implants are made of either titanium alloys or pure titanium. Around 95 percent of all patients show no intolerance. Nevertheless, there are patients whose body tolerates the material badly. This is mainly because even pure titanium sometimes contains tiny traces of tin or nickel.
Titanium implants are in direct contact with the jawbone and enter into a molecular bond with the bone substance. Titanium contains impurities with these metals, metal molecules pass into the bone and enter into the body. This process is called diffusion. Especially very sensitive people who are prone to allergies sometimes suffer from titanium intolerance. Similar to amalgam, the symptoms are rather nonspecific and therefore difficult to directly associate with intolerance. You may experience headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal discomfort, as well as muscle twitching in the legs.
What to do with titanium intolerance?
For patients who are sensitive to titanium, implants made of zirconia - a special ceramic - are a good alternative. Also, titanium implants with a tightly sealed ceramic surface are suitable. It prevents metal particles from passing into the bone. Some dentists offer in advance a titanium stimulation test, which provides information about a possible titanium intolerance. It is not cheap and can cost several hundred euros.
How are titanium implants used?
The dentist utilizes the latest technology to use titanium implants. Before the procedure, the dentist creates a digital x-ray of the jaw. A special 3-D software determines the position of each implant with millimeter precision. The insertion is computer-aided with a previously made drilling template.
To insert the dentist opens the gum and prepares an opening in the jaw with the drill, which then receives the titanium implant. Depending on the condition of the jawbone, it takes 3 to 6 months for the implant to grow together firmly with the bone substance. As a rule, the patient receives a temporary restoration, which the dentist replaces with the final dental crown after healing from the implant.
The treatment is performed with local anesthesia or sedation. On request, some doctors also offer treatment under general anesthesia.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Titanium Implants
Advantages:
- Usually titanium implants grow faster than ceramic implants into the jaw - the waiting time for the patient is shorter.
- An implant transfers the chewing force to the jawbone like a real tooth. This contributes to the long-term preservation of the bone substance.
- Titanium implants have a high breaking strength due to the very hard material and are extremely durable.
- Titanium implants are cheaper than ceramic implants.
Disadvantages:
- Unlike zirconia ceramic implants, titanium material induces unwanted side effects and intolerances in a small percentage of the population.
If the gums recede over the years, a gray margin may appear at the transition to the implant. This is where ceramic implants perform better.
How expensive are titanium implants and are health insurances responsible for the costs?
The resulting costs are composed of various individual factors and can vary considerably. The type and number of implants, as well as the position in the jaw play a role here. Implants in the anterior region are slightly more expensive than in the posterior region. In addition to that is the chosen material for the crown - it can be made of metal-ceramic or all-ceramic. Also, the number of necessary treatment appointments and follow-ups is not the same for every patient. This results in a price range of € 1,500 to € 3,000 per implant.
Implantologists will prepare a plan before starting the treatment to understand the exact cost. Many dentists now offer financing options with convenient installment payments. The statutory health insurance companies always assume the same fixed subsidy, which is independent of the type of dental prosthesis. Depending on the bonus situation, the health insurance fund reimburses between 319 and 415 euros per implant.
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