Materials used to Stabilise Artificial Teeth


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Modern dental implants are almost exclusively made of titanium, a metal that is both extremely robust and very light. An implant shouldn’t be so heavy that it causes discomfort or carries with it a risk of injuring the jaw or gums, but it needs to be strong enough to withstand the shearing forces involved in chewing and biting. The strength of a titanium implant is one of the factors that contributes to the comfort offered by dental implants, and the fact that with implants stabilising dentures a person can eat virtually anything they like.

Titanium implants are also known to be extremely safe as they are extensively used in other areas of modern medicine. Titanium is the material used in many replacement joints and limbs, offering the same structural strength and lightness which is invaluable in prosthetic medicine. Titanium has also shown, through its extensive use in these applications, that it is a material which does not react adversely with biological tissues. This is a major benefit when it comes to implant procedures, as one of the risks associated with inserting any foreign material into the body is that of an adverse reaction or rejection. There are very rare cases of people reacting adversely to titanium, which is why people are usually tested for their compatibility with titanium before being given the implant.


In the particular case of dental implants, titanium is also useful as it effectively fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This process has yet to be fully understood, however it is thought that titanium oxide within the implant is involved in interactions with the jawbone that result in osseointegration.

There are examples of dental implants that are not made out of pure titanium, but titanium alloys. These will offer all the benefits of a standard, titanium implant, however with the added bonus of offering increased resistance against breakages and improved stability. This means that a person can bite using their artificial teeth with improved stability, bringing them closer to the functionality of natural teeth.

Titanium alloys are typically made up of mostly titanium, and about 4% vanadium and 6% aluminium. These are also biocompatible materials that are known for their safety.

Titanium and the stabilising effect of dental implants

The ability of dental implants to effectively stabilise dentures and crowns is largely to do with the material with which they are made. Titanium is durable and strong enough to withstand biting and chewing pressures, thereby allowing dentures to be effectively anchored to the jawbone beneath. The fact that titanium can also integrate with our jawbones so well also contributes to how effective dental implants are at stabilising prosthetic teeth.

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