A big question surrounding ceramic zirconia implants is: Are they safe?
This isn’t a simple question: Some dentists claim that all metals and plastics are safe in the mouth, while others claim ceramic is always safe. We believe the answer depends heavily on the individual.
What’s safe for one person might be toxic for another. We are all unique, a concept called biochemical individuality. That means how “compatible with life” certain dental materials are.
A dental material that doesn’t generate any reaction in one person could be very unhealthy for someone else. Think of all of the people with allergies to common foods, like nuts or corn. Millions of people can eat these foods with no problems, yet others can end up in the emergency room after consuming a trace amount.
Because of biochemical individuality, it is part of our standard practice to test materials with each individual to determine true bio-compatibility. Energetic testing is the only way to determine what type of ceramic implant is the best match for you. This testing is unique to our practice. We use all four types of ceramic implants, so we can choose the right one for your needs.
It’s all about the materials
When considering any kind of dental implant, safety depends on the materials that are used. Titanium, aluminum, vanadium, and nickel are all used in metal implants. Metals are highly reactive. Up to one-third of patients may have negative reactions to titanium.
This is not limited to titanium: the other metals may, in some circumstances, cause inflammation, allergic reactions, or autoimmune responses. Metal implants can create or exacerbate an existing autoimmune condition. Beyond this, some people may be allergic to the metals. Nickel is a fairly common allergy. And there may be other hazards to using metals. Aluminum has various known toxic effects.
One reason many patients choose ceramic implants is to avoid these problems.
It’s also important to consider the possibility of reactions to ceramic implants. Ceramic implants include zirconia, alumina, and yttria. Ceramic implants that include alumina and yttria both exist in a glass phase, so there are no traces of metal present. That’s why they are described as “metal-free.” Ceramics are generally non-reactive, but at the molecular level, there could be slight reactions.
The detox factor
In the end, all materials are safe if the detox system can remove them from the body and are toxic if the body cannot remove them and cells are affected. A big part of our work is figuring out which materials are right for each patient, so no one needs to worry about what is going into their mouth.
If you have a concern that you might react to any dental material, let us know. We consider ourselves partners in our patients’ health and are happy to answer any questions you may have. The more information you share, the better we can serve you.
