Zirconia Dental Implants posts

I Am So Worried Because of the Smell of My Husband’s Dental Implants

Posted on September 30, 2026 by writeradmin.

I really want my husband’s dentist to swtich his implants from the metal ones to the titanium ones but he absolutely refuses and my husband won’t stand up to him. He’s got the implants done and the temporary dentures, which are acrylic. His mouth smells absolutely awful. Like rotten rubber. I think the metal implants are interacting with his jaw somehow. I’m worried it’s causing a serious problem and a few years from now we’re going to find out he has a huge infection or the metal ate away the bone. Is there any way to convince his dentist that my husband could have a problem and we need to switch these?

Madeline

Dear Madeline,

I can tell you are very worried about your husband and want to put your mind at ease. Your husband’s dental implants are not causing a problem because they are metal. Now, it is possible there is an infection there, but not because of the metal. Though, if there were an infection there would be other symptoms, such as a fever, pain, or a loose implant. You haven’t mentioned any of those.

The metal in dental implants is titanium. This particular metal is very biocompatible and has been used for decades in various prosthetics, including hips, knees, and teeth roots. There haven’t been any problems like you are worried about.

That being said, there is probably a horrible smell. I’m sure of that. The mostly likely cause of that is a result of food or other bacteria getting trapped between his gums and his temporary dentures. I would have him try something like a WaterPik to help him get all of the trapped things out of there.

Why You Don’t Want to Switch Dental Implants

Because his implants are secure and healthy you don’t want to try to switch them out for the zirconia implants. It’s not a simple matter of taking out the old ones and putting in the new ones. He’d have to have surgery to remove the metal one, then after that surgery heals have bone grafting done. After that surgery heals, he can finally have the metal-free implants placed.

That is three additional and unnecessary surgeries where things can go wrong. Right now he has a successful procedure. I’d leave it that way.

This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Lexington, KY Dr. James Williams.
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Should I Replace My Metal Implants with Zirconia?

Posted on August 4, 2025 by writeradmin.

I have two dental implants that are made from titanium. I need another dental implant. I recently read an article online that titanium can cause neurological problems. I’m thinking I should get a zirconia implant this time. Are they a good replacement for the metal ones? If so, should I also replace the other two?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

I’m not aware of any studies that show titanium causes neurological problems. It’s been used for decades not only in dental implants but also in prosthetics of all kinds, including hips. It is very biocompatible. I’d love for you to send me the article you read so I could read the studies they sited. If they didn’t site any legitimate scientific studies, then their article is probably just click bait. There is a lot of that online. Not every article you read is accurate.

There is nothing wrong with the zirconia dental implants if that is what you want for your new implant. However, I do not recommend that you switch your existing implants. It is not as simple as taking out the old implants and putting in new ones. Instead, the procedure that removes the implants will leave a hole in your jawbone. That bone needs to be replaced. Otherwise your new implants will fail. You’ll need a bone grafting procedure done in order to build back up your bone.

After that has had time to heal, you’ll need to then have another surgery to place the new implants. At each of those stages, something can go wrong. If you have stable implants, I’d leave them alone. You don’t want to risk dental implant failure when you already have great implants.

Some people reading this may wonder whether titanium or zirconia implants are better. There isn’t a great answer for this simply because zirconia is much newer and we don’t have long-term data yet. But, from what we know so far they are equal to the titanium. That could change as we gain more information.

Be aware that not all dentists will have the zirconia implants. Your best option would be to see a metal free dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James Williams.

Is Zirconia Radioactive?

Posted on April 26, 2024 by writeradmin.

I’m hoping you can help me. I need to get my first dental implant (and hopefully my last if I keep up with my oral healthcare). My dentist wanted to give me a titanium implant, but I was worried about that being metal and having that rust or something in my jaw. He assured me it wouldn’t be an issue. When he could see I wasn’t convinced, he suggested zirconia as an alternative. That sounded good until I read that there is radioactivity in them. Now I’m not sure what to do.

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

I am glad that you are trying to keep a careful eye on what you put into your body. That is always an important and healthy thing to do. Your dentist is correct that the titanium implants are perfectly safe to use. In fact, they’ve been used successfully for decades in more than just dental implants. They are also a tried and true standard in other prosthetics such as a hip replacement. Titanium is an inert metal and very biocompatible.

However, if you are still concerned, then zirconia is a fantastic metal-free dental alternative. I know you read about some radioactivity that has you worried. However, I’m willing to bet the article didn’t mention that most things we encounter have some radioactivity, including your own body. The type of radioactivity you will find in zirconia is equivalent to what you would find brick, stone, or even water. I hope that puts your mind at ease.

The most important part of getting a dental implant is making sure your dentist has post-doctoral training in placing dental implants and has experience doing them. It’s also important that if your dentist is sending you to an oral surgeon for the surgical part, make certain that you see the dentist first. It is the dentist, not the surgeon, that should determine the placement of the dental implant.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Williams.

Are Zirconia Implants Radioactive?

Posted on March 26, 2021 by writeradmin.

I need to replace a tooth. I’ve been told that dental implants are the best replacement. However, I am having a hard time deciding. I’ve been told having metal in your dental work is bad for your body and planned on getting the zirconia implants, but now I’ve read that they may be radioactive. Is there any good choice in dental implants?

Monica

Dear Monica,

One of the problems with living in a litigious society is there are warnings for everything. The other day, a friend and I were putting up one of those car windshield shades and saw a note that said, “Warning: Do not drive with shade in window.” We just looked at each other and asked, “I wonder who was the idiot that made that warning necessary?”

When it comes to dental implants, you are actually safe no matter which type you get. The metal that affects most patients when it comes to dental care has more to do with patients that have metal allergies. The most common type of those allergies is nickel. The type of metal in traditional dental implants is titanium, which has been used for decades and is one of the most biocompatible materials available. Another common metal in dental work that people understandably want to avoid is mercury. This is found in those old silver fillings people used to get. While the American Dental Association still considers them safe, most dentists have switched to mercury-free composite fillings.

As far as zirconia goes, while there are trace amounts of radioactivity in them, it is actually around the same radioactivity you get in concrete and bricks. Even our drinking water has some radioactivity. My experience has been that most articles which bring up these type of frightening headlines are usually just clickbait. They need the clicks to justify their writing, so they try to scare people into reading their article.

If you don’t have any sensitivity to titanium, you may want to go the traditional implant route, simply because they have been around longer and we have more data on their longevity. But, honestly, you’ll be fine with either one. And, yes, dental implants are the best tooth replacement out there, so great choice!

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Weaver.