I am getting a smile makeover, which will probably include at least eight dental implants on my upper arch. I am trying to do my homework ahead of time and have some questions. First, as far as implants go, are the Astra Implants from the UK reliable? I also wondered if zirconium was okay for crowns. I did read that porcelain fused to metal can leave a black line, but wanted something strong. I’m worried zirconium will be clear colored, though. Any help you can give will be appreciated, my appointment is coming up fairly soon.
Valerie,
Dear Valerie,
I am glad you are trying to do research. However, I would like to steer you in a different direction. The most important thing to research is the dentist doing your dental implants procedure. That has a much greater impact on your result than the materials used. Before we get into what to look for, I want to ask you a question. You mentioned that the reason for your dental implants was a smile makeover. However, unless the teeth needed to be extracted, that is a gross overtreatment. The typical procedure for a smile makeover is porcelain veneers which hardly removes any tooth structure. A dental implant requires you to lose the entire tooth. I just want to make sure the implants were necessary before you go through with this.
Dental implants are quite an advanced procedure. So advanced, however, that dental school is not enough training. It takes significant post-doctoral training to be able to do this the way it needs to be done. There is no way you can learn enough about the materials in the time you have. Plus, so much of it will also depend on your specific case. Look for a dentist with implant qualifications. As for the zirconium. That will be white, not clear. I hope that puts your mind at ease.
This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.