Contrary to word on the street,  Titanium is Not Bio-Inert

A staple material of dental implants, it has only recently been shown that Titanium is not bioinert, in fact, laboratories using the MELISA test have found approximately 1%-3% of patients being tested with titanium implants prove to have an allergy or more commonly a sensitivity. Titanium implants are not 100% titanium, there is a variable mix of 1-5% of other metals – so for those that are hypersensitive to titanium or who prefer not to have any type of metal in their body to avoid metal’s galvanizing effects, opting for the  biocompatible, all-ceramic, zirconia dental impacts offers a better solution.

Titanium Allergy Symptoms:

Common symptoms can be based on numerous factors, including the source of titanium, other metal alloy exposure, accumulation of titanium in the local tissues (around metal implants), duration of titanium exposure, and individual health factors.

• Skin diseases (Eczema, psoriasis)
• Vertigo
• Brain Fog
• Headaches/Migraines
• Peri-implantitis around metal implants
• Sinus congestion
• Cancer
• Vision problems
• Lung diseases
• Libido Changes & Sexual Male Over-sensitization During Activity
• Bright’s disease (a disease involving chronic inflammation of the kidneys)
• Lupus (any of various diseases or conditions marked by inflammation of the skin)

Zirconia dental implants

Zirconia dental implants are considered more biocompatible, more aesthetic, hypoallergenic, and more tissue-friendly compared to the metal-based titanium implants. Zirconia implants are the implants of choice of biological and holistic dentists, naturopaths, functional & integrative doctors, and the clear choice for patients with autoimmune disorders, allergies, and those who are health conscious.

From the biological and holistic dental perspective, zirconia implants are considered a better option to titanium implants for the following reasons.

• zirconia dental implants are 100% metal-free, allergy-free
• zirconia dental implants are white in colour like a tooth, far more aesthetic
• ceramic implants are biocompatible i.e. zirconia implants do not trigger a host response like metal implants can
• ceramic implants are bioinert i.e. they are less likely to induce a host response, meaning less likelihood of inflammation around gums
• zirconia does not corrode over time
• zirconia implants do not have galvanizing effects (electrical conductivity) as is possible with metal implants – this has even greater significance in a world bombarded by EMF waves

There are three variations of zirconia implant types:

• 1-piece zirconia implants – are a single solid implant piece where the implant body (the portion implanted into the jaw bone) and the abutment (area protruding from the gums) are joined.
• 2-piece zirconia implants – consist of an implant body placed initially into healthy bone and allowed to integrate before a separate abutment piece  is cemented into the implant body. While 2-piece zirconia implants tend to be more versatile and are easier to use, 2-piece ceramic implants have a higher incidence of breakage at the abutment/implant connection point but are still an excellent option for certain clinical situations.
• 3-piece zirconia implants – which have a zirconia implant body, a zirconia abutment and a screw (either carbon fiber screw or a metal screw),  that attaches the implant body to the abutment.