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Ceramic Implants

When you have missing teeth that need to be replaced, implants are the ideal choice. They look and function just like natural teeth.
Implants
Dentist patient
There are a number of ways a dentist can replace missing teeth. For a long time, the method of choice was to place a bridge. A bridge can look great and last a long time, and in some cases, it’s the best option for replacing missing teeth. While traditional methods typically mean sacrificing healthy tissue from the teeth on either side of the gap to be bridged, there are conservative techniques that can minimize this.

Dentures are another option, and today’s light, flexible thermoplastics make even single-tooth “pop-in” partials a possibility. They’re comfortable, look good, and work well. But you have to take them out regularly for cleaning, and it can be annoying when, for instance, a seed or crumb gets between the partial and your gums.

Implants sidestep these shortcomings completely.

Implants

Not All Implants Are Created Equal

You can think of implants as artificial tooth roots onto which we can place crowns, partials, or even full dentures. Once surgically placed in your jaw, they actually integrate with your jawbone, just like a tooth’s natural root, providing excellent stability.

Most implant dentists continue to use titanium alloys, some of which can contain toxic metals such as nickel and aluminum. If you have other metal in your mouth – amalgam fillings, for instance – battery-like effects (oral galvanism) can be created through their interaction. This can accelerate corrosion of the implant, releasing metal ions into the body. This raises the risk of a condition called peri-implantitis, and that raises the risk of implant failure. Problems such as muscle, joint, and nerve pain, chronic fatigue, and neurological issues have been documented in the scientific literature.

Even when no such problems arise, titanium implants can also come to be the less aesthetic option over time. If the gums recede or thin around them, the dark gray of the metal begins to show through, casting dark shadows in the mouth.

Ceraroot implants

One-Piece Ceramic Implants to the Rescue

Because of these issues with titanium, we place only zirconia implants here at Boise Caring Dentistry. Specifically, we use the one-piece ceramic implants from CeraRoot.

Most implants, whatever material they’re made from, are two piece units, which necessarily have a microgap between them. That gap is a perfect harbor for harmful bacteria and other pathogens that live in the mouth, laying the groundwork for peri-implantitis and possible implant failure.

This is a non-issue with CeraRoot’s one-piece implants. They sit flush with the gums, as well, making them the cleanest implant option. You can actually clean the implant with a regular toothbrush as you would any other tooth, while other designs can require special cleaning methods to keep all of the tissues healthy.

And because they’re white, there’s never any danger of dark lines showing up at the margins. They blend more naturally with your natural dentition.

Simply, we find CeraRoot implants to be the one implant option that’s the closest thing you’ll find to a natural tooth!