It's hard not to get self-conscious when this happens. Not having a
complete set of teeth can also lead to eating problems.
Nowadays, it's quite easy to replace missing or badly diseased teeth
using dental implants. Implants have an advantage over dentures, the
traditional way of replacing teeth.
Dental implants are composed of an artificial root covered with a
dental crown. The artificial root is surgically attached into the
jawbone and once healed, is used to anchor the artificial replacement
crown, which is permanently attached to the implant. The result is an
artificial tooth which blends in perfectly with the other teeth.
Dentures, even with advances in dental technology, are still far from
perfect and cause many problems for patients. Many still complain of
pain, particularly those using a complete set of lower dentures. On
the other hand, partial dentures, which are used when only several
teeth are missing, are anchored to the teeth on either side of the
empty area using a metal clasp, and can be very damaging to these
teeth.
Also, as a patient ages, new sets of dentures need to be made to fit
the changing gum tissue and chewing surfaces of the teeth in the
dentures.
But dental implants also have their fair share of concerns. As with
all types of surgery, infection can occur, but these cases are rare.
The real concern is the exposure to metal ions 24 hours per day
because dental implants are made of pure titanium and/or a titanium
alloy. Chronic exposure to titanium, which is not biologically inert,
may trigger inflammation, allergies, hypersensitivity and autoimmune
disease in susceptible individuals.
Intolerance to metal implants is not something new. Majority of
patients who had their incompatible dental material removed
experienced reduced metal sensitivity and long-term health
improvement.
Among the severe problems reported after receiving titanium dental
implants include muscle, joint, and nerve pain, chronic fatigue
syndrome, neurological problems, depression, and skin inflammation.
Though it is rare, cancer is a well-known complication of orthopedic
surgery that involves metal implants. The use of implanted titanium
can potentially induce the abnormal proliferation of cells
(neoplasia), which can lead to the growth of malignant tumors.
In 2008, a 38-year-old woman was reported to have developed bone
cancer almost a year after getting a titanium dental implant. Luckily,
she was successfully treated with chemotherapy.
The presence of any metal in your mouth also leaves you prone to
"galvanic toxicity" because your mouth essentially becomes a charged
battery when dissimilar metals are present in the saliva.
All that is needed to make a battery are two or more dissimilar metals
and a liquid medium that can conduct electricity (i.e. electrolyte).
The metal dental implants, fillings, crowns, partials and orthodontic
braces in your mouth are the dissimilar metals, while saliva is the
electrolyte.
The movement of the metal ions from the metals in your mouth into the
saliva generates electricity known as galvanic current, which can
actually be measured using an ammeter!
The electricity produced increases the corrosion rate of the
metal-based dental restorations, which hastens the release of metal
ions into your mouth. In turn, these metal ions react with other
components of your body, leading to sensitivity, inflammation, and
ultimately, autoimmune disease.
Some people are very susceptible to these internal electrical currents
and may experience unexplained pain, nerve shocks, ulcerations and
inflammation. They may also notice a constant metallic or salty taste,
or a burning sensation in their mouths.
There is also a concern that the oral electricity may direct
electrical currents into brain tissue and possibly disrupt the natural
electrical current in the brain.
If you don't want to settle for dentures but want to avoid the dangers
of titanium dental implants, high-strength ceramic dental implants
have become alternatives to metal-based implants. Metal-free zirconia
implants, which are popular in Europe and South America, are now
available in the U.S. They are highly biocompatible to the human body
and release low levels of metal ions compared to traditional metallic
implants.
Posted in Natural Health | Tags: ceramic dental implants, dental
implants, dentures, metal implants, titanium dental implants, zirconia
implants
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