The other day I was in the office answering a patient's last minute questions before an operation to place a single-tooth implant, something that for me is purely routine. However, when answering some of these curious questions, which not everyone asks, it occurred to me that they could have a place in this blog.
And that is why I am writing this article. Let's talk about the material from which implants are made, but let's use two specific question-answer examples:
Can I have an MRI - or X-ray scan - with implants?
Not a bad question, which is why it was the one that got me thinking about this article. An MRI is a procedure that obtains images of our body through a device that rotates gigantic magnets around the area we want to visualise, so it is quite reasonable to ask: won't the implant 'shoot' towards the magnet?
No, you can rest assured. As they are made of titanium - as is the case in most cases - they are not attracted to magnets. They also do not cause distortions in the image generated, another concern that can occur with non-ferromagnetic metals.
This brings us to the second question:
Do they put dental implants in the airport?
Another curiosity that was generated by the same patient, and which has the same answer: no, titanium is not detected in the control arches that are used to detect metals in places such as airports.
This is a reasonable doubt, as other larger prostheses (such as hip or knee prostheses) can be detected.
These two doubts allow me to talk about titanium as the material of choice for the manufacture of implants such as the ones we use at Vélez y Lozano.
Why are dental implants made of titanium?
There are several characteristics that make titanium the best choice for the manufacture of dental implants today.
High biocompatibility
Titanium is a material that is highly biocompatible according to the most recent studies, which means that the risk of rejection is practically minimal.
Corrosion resistant
Titanium is highly resistant to all types of corrosion, making it an ideal choice for implantation in the human body for any procedure.
Easy osseointegration
Titanium is also a material with very easy osseointegration, which means that it integrates very well with the bone and does not cause problems in the process of generating new bone (osteogenesis), which is essential for the success of the implant.
High durability and resistance
Titanium is a very resistant material, capable of resisting many atmospheres of pressure and used in fields where good durability is necessary. So much so, for example, that it is used to build atomic submarines.