Many patients ask us if dental implants are safe and holistic. We have opted to use ceramic dental implants, also known as zirconia implants because they are biocompatible with many patients. This is because ceramics are, for the most part, inert, meaning non-reactive, though some slight reactions may occur at the molecular level. In contrast, titanium dental implants, which are made of metal, may react to other metals in the mouth.
You may be wondering what goes into a ceramic dental implant. These implants contain the elements of Zirconia, Alumina and Yttria. Alumina and Yttria are both ceramic oxides of metals, meaning they exist in a glass phase, and therefore, there is no trace of metal present in the ceramic.
The Alumina form of the element is different from the metallic aluminum. It exists in nature as a natural, safe component of earth and clays, as well as a constituent of our bones. It’s responsible for our skeletal structure’s strength and elasticity (our ability to bend).
Is a ceramic dental implant holistic? At the Institute for Systemic Dentistry, we look at a patient’s overall health in deciding what treatments to use. We consider how the health of your teeth and gums affects your whole body—and how your overall physical health affects your oral health. We believe ceramic dental implants fit nicely into a holistic practice because they are biocompatible with so many patients.
That said, there are risks with any dental implant, so it is important to understand what they are. A material that doesn’t cause a reaction in one person can generate one in another. We use energetic testing to determine which of the four types of ceramic implants is the best fit for an individual patient. We recommend you read our blog post, “Are Ceramic Dental Implants Safe?” for a more complete understanding.
If you are getting ceramic dental implants, we encourage you to be proactive and share relevant information about your health with your dentist. That will help us take your overall health into account when recommending a type of implant. Ultimately, the safest most holistic care results from an active collaboration between dentist and patient.
