552 Broadway, Suite 505
New York, New York 10012

What are Dental Implants Made of?

SoHo Dental • May 05, 2021

Wondering what dental implants are made of? Check out our helpful article for a full breakdown of the materials used to make them.

dental implants

Are you planning on getting dental implants sometime soon? 


Tooth loss is one of the most prevalent causes of having an unhealthy oral health. In the United States, the average adult has 25 teeth out of 32 teeth. If you’re missing teeth and want to keep a complete set of chompers, consider getting dental implants.


Before you invest in dental implants, it’s good to learn more about what will go into your body. Below, we’ll discuss the materials used to create dental implants. We also discuss why materials like pure titanium aren’t suitable for dental implants.



Read on and find out more:

What Are Dental Implants Made of?

All dental implants must have a stable base for tooth replacement. Without it, the implant may come loose or cause other bone issues. Today, there are various alloys used to create dental implants.


The most common metal used for dental implants is titanium. However, it isn’t as simple as choosing a titanium implant. Like granite and steel, titanium comes in different grades.


The ones you can get at a commercial level are titanium in pure grades I, II, III, and IV. The titanium used in medical and dental implants is an alloy. To be specific, alloy-23.



The reason why medical specialists don’t use commercially pure (CP) grade titanium is because it’s weaker than grade-23 alloy. It doesn’t matter if the CP titanium is a grade I or IV. Medical-grade alloy-23 is much stronger than it.

Why Implants Use Strong Titanium Alloy

Why don’t doctors or dentists use CP grade I titanium as implant materials? Keep in mind that the masseter is the strongest muscle in your body.


The masseter's absolute strength is astounding, letting you close your teeth with a force as great as 200 pounds on your molars.


If your molars can take this force daily, from its root to its enamel, your dental implants should, as well. With grade-23 titanium, it's possible. If a dentist used softer metal for the dental implant, it might break or fail from overuse.



Compared to other alloys, it’s the strongest metal that can handle the strains often taken by our bones. Also, grade-23 alloy is safe. We’ll talk more about this in detail below.

Is Grade-23 Titanium Safe When Used as Dental Implants?

As a tooth replacement option, grade-23 titanium alloy is a good choice. However, now, you might worry about how safe grade-23 titanium is for dental implants. Considering that it’s an FDA-approved medical-grade alloy, it is safe.


Keep in mind that this alloy isn’t only for dental implants. It’s also for creating orthopedic pins and screws to reinforce broken bones and joints. It's great for creating surgical staples and joint replacements, as well.



Its strength allows the metal to mimic bones and teeth. Plus, using grade-23 alloy will not cause any unwanted side effects. Even if you may feel weird about having metal in you, you can rest easy that grade-23 titanium is safe.

Why Get Dental Implants Made of Grade-23 Titanium?

Other than its strength and safety, the grade-23 alloy is biocompatible. It allows osseointegration, the process where the bone will grow around the implant and bond with it.


When this occurs, the dental implant can function like a natural tooth. It secures the implant and keeps it that way. Osseointegration also stimulates growth in the jawbone. 


Keep in mind that the implanted titanium post or screw is quite thin. If you eat a lot of hard food items, it can cause too much stress for the post. Without osseointegration, it will likely break before long.


Osseointegration is also one reason why your dentist waits for the implant to heal. They need your surgery wounds to get better before they place the replacement tooth or teeth. While your wounds heal, osseointegration occurs and strengthens the bond between the metal and bone.



The same process occurs with other parts of the body, not only in the jawbone. It is what most doctors look for when they install metal plates and screws in their patients. Some patients say it feels more natural and easier to adapt to.

Top Reasons to Get Dental Implants

Now, you know that dental implants use safe materials that stimulate osseointegration. If you’re unsure about how getting dental implants help, here are a few of them. First, let’s focus on the aesthetic value of having dental implants.


If you’re missing teeth, your facial structure will change. For example, you may notice that you have a sunken cheek if you have a row of missing molars on one side. You can bring a bit of roundness to your face when replacing your missing teeth with implants.


If you don’t replace missing teeth, your remaining teeth will grow apart. It leads to tooth gaps. This doesn’t only affect how you look and feel, but also how you chew your food.


Dental implants have a multitude of functional uses as well. They will help chew your food better and faster. They’ll also protect your gums from getting sores from hard food items like nuts or chips.



Chewing faster means you'll avoid a lot of digestion problems, like bloating and acid reflux. The rest of your digestion system won't have trouble digesting your food. You’ll also get more nutritional value in your food when you chew it well.

Get Dental Implants Today

We hope that this guide to the materials used in dental implants helped understand the treatments better. You can now rest easy, knowing that dental implants are safe and functional.

Do you live in New York and are looking for reliable dental services? SoHo Dental Group offers dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, and other dental treatments. Visit the SoHo contact page now to learn more about our services.

Share by: