Dental Implants
How Dental Implants Work
A dental implant is a small cylinder that gets placed into the jawbone. It fuses with the jawbone in a process known as osseointegration. It acts as a substitute for the root of a lost tooth. Restorations (crowns, bridges, or dentures) get placed on top of the implants to replace the visible portion of the lost teeth.
Ceramic vs. Titanium Dental Implants
Either titanium or ceramic implants can provide adequate tooth root replacement. However, Dr. Langston’s holistic approach causes him to favor ceramic implants because they are more biocompatible. Some of the specific advantages they offer include:
- No allergic reactions: Although allergies to titanium are rare, they do occur in some people. Ceramic presents no risk of an allergic reaction.
- No risk of an autoimmune reaction: Exposure to metals used in dentistry may contribute to autoimmune disease, even years after a titanium implant is placed.
- No galvanic toxicity: Galvanic toxicity occurs when different metals in the mouth interact. It can lead to chronic insomnia, a metal taste in the mouth, and other symptoms. This rarely occurs with titanium implants, but it never occurs with ceramic ones.
- More Natural-Looking: Ceramic implants are white, so there is no chance that they will make your rebuilt teeth look dark or dingy.
- Fewer surgeries: Titanium dental implants usually come in two pieces and require at least two surgeries. Ceramic implants have a one-piece construction, so no second surgery is necessary after the initial implant placement.
Holistic from Beginning to End
In addition to using ceramic dental implants, Dr. Langston takes other measures to ensure that the entire tooth replacement process is as holistic as possible from beginning to end. For example, if you do not have adequate bone structure to support dental implants, you will require a bone graft. For your bone graft, you have the option of using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to promote healing. PRF has platelets from your own blood, which can work to speed up your recovery time following the graft.
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