Pure Titanium Vs. Titanium Alloy: Which Dental Implant Material Is Best For You?
Posted on: 22 February 2016
A dental implant is a great way to permanently replace a missing tooth due to the strong metal root that is implanted into your jaw bone. You may not be aware that there are actually different options for the implant material that will be used. Titanium alloy and pure titanium are two popular options, and by knowing the differences between them you can select the one that will work best for your dental implant.
Pure Titanium
Even though the name implies that the implant is made out of 100% titanium, commercial grades of titanium are actually only 99.2% pure. Pure titanium is made in four grades. The higher the number, the stronger the titanium will be. On the flip side, a stronger grade will also cost more money, which is why patients may not always opt for grade 4.
There is little difference between each grade of pure titanium when it comes to how it integrates with your jawbone; that makes strength the only aspect you should be concerned about.
Titanium posts that are screw-shaped don't require the highest grade of titanium. That is because the post literally screws into the jawbone, which gives it additional stability. If you have a small jawbone that requires a small and narrow post, grade 4 titanium can give it extra stability. For a titanium post that is a thin and wide with a blade shape, using grade 4 titanium will help stabilize the implant as well for similar reasons.
Titanium Alloy
The structure of a post made of titanium alloy is similar to the strength of a grade 4 pure titanium post. This allows the materials to be used interchangeably.
The big difference with titanium alloy is that the material uses nickel, which can be a huge problem if the patient is allergic to the material. If you are unsure, you may have to undergo allergy testing to ensure that you will not have a reaction to the implant material once it is installed into your jawbone.
A dental implant can potentially last the rest of your life, so it's important that you do the research on the material that will be used. If you have any questions, meet with a dentist from a company like The Center For Progressive Dentistry for a consultation. They will be able to look at your jawbone, determine the grade of titanium that you need, and let you know if titanium alloy will be an option for you.
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