I’ve recently been looking at alternative health sites to try to get a better grasp of my health. In one article I recently read it indicated that recent studies have shown that metal in the body can cause neurological ill-effects. I have two titanium implants. Should I switch them out for the newer zirconia implants?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
I’d be very interested in seeing that article. My guess is they didn’t actually document which “studies” showed these results. I sincerely doubt they had any scientific integrity. Let’s start with the idea that metal in the body can cause neurological ill-effects. Our bodies naturally have metal in them. In many cases, those metals are necessary to sustain our lives. Just one example would be iron. There is iron (a metal) in our blood. Without enough of it, we become anemic which can be life-threatening. Metals on their own are not dangerous in our bodies, depending on the type of metal.
With that in mind, let’s look at the specific metal you are referring to in regard to your dental implants. Titanium is highly biocompatible and have been used as biological replacements for decades, including such things as hip replacements. There have been no studies, as far as I am aware, that show any neurological problems as a result.
Zirconia is becoming more readily available for dental work and is a great advancement. It is especially helpful to give patients a metal-free option for dental crowns on their back teeth because it is so strong. If you were ever to need any additional dental work, getting it done with zirconia would be a fine option.
Should You Replace Your Dental Implants?
That being said, I don’t feel like I can recommend you replace your current dental implants unless there was a problem with them. To do so, would mean you are removing healthy implants. When you remove them, it will also take bone structure with it. That bone structure is necessary to integrate and retain the new implants. This will require you to need some bone grafting done in order to have enough bone again. Now you have added an additional procedure.
Let’s say all that goes fine. None of that guarantees the new implants will succeed. So now you’ve taken out viable implants, added an additional procedure, and have to hope the second set will fare as well as the first. To me, it seems like totally unnecessary expense and risk. Though I’m sure you would be able to find a dentist willing to make money off of it, I am going to recommend you save your time and money and just keep the implants you have.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
