Ceramic Dental Implants – Sunnyvale, TX
Permanent, Biocompatible Tooth Replacement
Dental implants are the gold standard in tooth replacement. They mimic the structure of natural teeth, which makes them extremely strong and comfortable. Most dental offices offer implants that are made out of a titanium alloy. While titanium is quite strong, and it works well for most patients, Dr. Langston offers an alternative that is even more biocompatible: ceramic dental implants in Sunnyvale, TX.
Why Choose Long Creek Dental for Ceramic Dental Implants?
- More Natural-Looking Dental Implants
- Able to Help Those with Metal Allergies
- Less Invasive Treatment Process
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.
Oral Surgery
It’s fairly common for dental implant patients to need some type of oral surgery before they can receive their new teeth, namely tooth extractions. When giving you your initial exam, if Dr. Langston finds any infected or failing teeth, he will recommend having them removed before you undergo implant surgery. This will guarantee your safety and make the process go much smoother as well. Fortunately, he can complete any necessary procedures himself.
Bone Grafting
One of the most important factors when getting dental implants is the quality of the jawbone that will support the new teeth. For patients who have suffered bone loss and have a weak or brittle jaw, Dr. Langston can strengthen it using a bone grafting procedure. Instead of relying on donated bone from somewhere else in your body or a cadaver to do this, he will use PRF therapy, a substance derived from your own blood that accelerates the healing process and dramatically increases the chance of successful implant placement.