The Use of Titanium in Dentistry

Thanks to its particular properties, titanium is one of the favourite materials that professional dental practitioners will recommend to their patients. For most procedures, there are plenty of materials to choose from but titanium remains a popular choice for many of them even when others might be considered. One of the reasons for its success in dentistry is that it has so-called biocompatibility and will not be rejected by the body as something that is regarded as foreign. In other words, it does not cause a patient's immune system to attack it. Likewise, titanium is corrosion resistant and will be able to put up with exposure to alkaline substances, such as saliva, as well as acidic ones, like citrus fruits. Lastly, titanium can put up with the pressure it will be exposed to as people chew and bite with it in their mouths. Weaker materials can snap when the jaw pushes down. Read on to discover three of its common uses.

• Endosteal Implants

This sort of dental implant is used to create a platform for other prosthetics to be attached to. Dentists attach dental implants like this directly onto their patient's jawbone. As such, a tough material like titanium is often selected as providing the right sort of durability without irritating the patient. Endosteal implants look like small screws onto which false teeth can be attached. Some resemble plates while others are more cylindrical in appearance. However, once false teeth have been attached to them, the appearance of a titanium implant is hidden from view. Therefore, the metalwork provides an entirely functional role rather than any cosmetic dentistry in its own right.

• Subperiosteal Implants

Dental implants that are referred to as subperiosteal are also largely made from titanium these days. They perform the same role as endosteal implants, but are connected to the patient on their gums rather than being drilled into the jawbone beneath. Your dentist may recommend titanium implants of this type if your jaw is shallow or has been weakened, for example by a facture. As they are anchored less firmly than endosteal implants, only strong matierals like titanium tend to be recommended.

• Dental Braces

Many dentists consider dental braces that are made of titanium as being superior. Although stainless steel is a more common material, titanium is sometimes chosen because it is more flexible, affording a little give here and there as the patient's teeth realign. Some dentists also claim that titanium wires are better at staying in place without being displaced so frequently. Visually speaking, titanium braces are much the same as the more common stainless steel versions.