20 Apr

What are dental implants made of?

What are dental implants made of? It’s one of the questions patients ask most often before deciding on treatment. The short answer: the vast majority are made of titanium, the material with the most clinical evidence built up over decades of use. Zirconia implants are a more recent alternative, with superior aesthetic properties but fewer years of long-term follow-up. And so-called screwless implants are simply a different way of attaching the prosthesis, not a different material.

At Clínica Dental Fernando Soria, we work with the dental implant materials that have the strongest scientific and clinical backing. Knowing what the implants we are going to place are made of is part of the information we always give at the first consultation, along with the 3D digital planning that determines the exact size, shape, and position of each implant.

Not sure which option is best for your case? Book an appointment with our specialists in dental implants in Madrid and we’ll explain everything you need to know.

 

CLÍNICA DENTAL FERNANDO SORIA, MADRID

Phone: 91 445 16 36 / 610 42 79 78

Email: atencionalpaciente@fernandosoria.com

 

Dental implant materials: an overview

To properly answer what dental implants are made of, you first need to understand that an implant has two main parts: the implant body (the screw that goes into the bone) and the prosthesis on top of it (the crown). The implant material refers to the body.

The most widely used dental implant materials today are:

• Commercially pure titanium (grades I to IV): the gold standard. Excellent biocompatibility and osseointegration proven over decades.
• Grade V titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V): greater mechanical strength than pure titanium. Indicated for narrower-diameter implants or high-load areas.
• Zirconia (zirconium dioxide): a metal-free ceramic alternative. Better aesthetics in cases where the gum is very thin, but with fewer years of clinical follow-up.

 

Titanium implants: why they are still the standard

The main reason titanium implants dominate the answer to what dental implants are made of is the accumulated evidence. Titanium has shown ten-year success rates above 95% in multiple studies involving thousands of patients. Its biocompatibility is exceptional: the body does not recognize it as a foreign body, and bone grows directly onto its surface without a fibrous capsule.

The key features of titanium implants are:

• Direct osseointegration: bone grows onto the micro-rough titanium surface and anchors it firmly.
• Mechanical strength: able to withstand chewing forces for decades.
• Lightness: titanium is light for a metal, which reduces overloading of the bone.
• No corrosion: it does not degrade in the oral environment over time.

The only aesthetic drawback of titanium implants is their metallic gray color, which in patients with very thin gums can show slightly through the tissue. It is an uncommon situation, but it is where zirconia implants make their strongest case.

 

Zirconia implants: when they are the alternative

Zirconia implants are the dental market’s response to the demand for completely metal-free solutions. For patients wondering what the most aesthetic dental implants are made of, zirconia is the option that comes closest to the look of a natural tooth, right from the root.

The advantages of zirconia implants are:

• White color: no risk of a grayish show-through in thin gums.
• Metal-free: an option for patients with sensitivity or allergy to titanium, although true titanium allergies are extremely rare.
• Biocompatible surface: good osseointegration, although with less accumulated evidence than titanium.

The limitations of zirconia implants are:

• Fragility under lateral impact: zirconia ceramic resists compression well but can fracture under sudden lateral forces.
• Less design flexibility: many zirconia systems are one-piece (implant and abutment combined), which limits prosthetic options.
• Fewer years of follow-up: long-term studies are more recent and include fewer patients than those on titanium.

 

Dental implant materials compared

This table sums up the key differences between the main dental implant materials, so you can see which implant material best suits each profile:

Feature	Grade IV titanium	Grade V titanium (Ti-6Al-4V)	Zirconia
Osseointegration	Excellent	Excellent	Good
Mechanical strength	High	Very high	High (brittle on impact)
Color	Metallic gray	Metallic gray	White
Clinical evidence	Very extensive (decades)	Extensive	Growing (fewer years)
Main indication	General use	High-load areas	Titanium allergy or very high aesthetic demands

 

What screwless dental implants are

The question of what screwless dental implants are causes some confusion because the term does not refer to a different material. So-called screwless implants are implants in which the connection between the implant and the crown is not secured with a retaining screw, but with a cemented or friction-fit system.

The best-known screwless dental implants are cement-retained ones, where the crown is bonded to the abutment with dental cement. Their advantages are aesthetic: there is no visible screw access hole in the crown. Their drawbacks are that removing the crown for maintenance is more complicated and that excess cement left below the gumline can cause peri-implantitis.

At our clinic, we assess case by case whether a screw-retained or a cement-retained connection is more suitable. When screwless dental implants are being considered for the back of the mouth, where chewing loads are high, a screw-retained connection is generally the safer long-term option.

 

What is the best material for a dental implant?

The most honest answer to which dental implant material is best: it depends on the case. For most patients, titanium is the option with the most evidence, the best balance of strength and biocompatibility, and the lowest cost. Zirconia is the best choice when there are thin gums in the front aesthetic zone and the patient particularly values having no metal.

What makes no sense is always recommending the most expensive or the newest material without considering the specific case. The decision should be based on the diagnosis, the patient’s anatomy, and the expected aesthetic and functional result.

 

The implant surface: as important as the material

When we talk about what dental implants are made of, the conversation can’t stop at the base material. The implant surface is just as decisive for osseointegration.

Today’s implant surfaces are microstructured through acid etching, sandblasting, or hydrophilic treatments to increase roughness at the nanometer scale. This maximizes contact between the implant and the bone and speeds up osseointegration.

At our clinic, we work with brands whose surfaces have solid clinical evidence behind them. We do not use white-label implants or systems without a documented clinical track record. If your periodontal health also needs to be addressed before the implant is placed, our periodontics in Madrid section explains the protocol we follow beforehand.

 

How we choose the material at our clinic

At Clínica Dental Fernando Soria, choosing the dental implant material always follows the same process: diagnosis with a 3D CT scan, analysis of the anatomy and bone quality, assessment of the gum profile, and a discussion with the patient about their aesthetic and functional priorities.

We don’t sell the most expensive material by default. We sell the one that best solves each case, with the strongest scientific backing available. To learn more about our approach, visit our best dentists in Madrid section and meet the team behind every treatment.

 

Frequently asked questions about dental implant materials

Can titanium implants cause an allergy?

True titanium allergies are extremely rare, with an incidence below 0.6% according to the available literature. When we choose what the implants we place will be made of, we always take a medical history covering any previous sensitivity to metals. If there is a history of one, we consider zirconia.

Does the implant material affect MRI scans?

Titanium is a paramagnetic material: it is not ferromagnetic and is not attracted by magnetic fields. Titanium implants are compatible with standard-field MRI scans. Zirconia is also compatible. In neither case is the implant a contraindication for imaging tests.

Are zirconia implants more expensive?

Generally, yes. Zirconia systems cost more to manufacture and come in fewer variants on the market than titanium implants. That is reflected in the final treatment estimate. The price difference should be justified by a real clinical indication, not just by an aesthetic preference that titanium could address just as well in that particular case.

 

Conclusion

What dental implants are made of doesn’t have a single answer: it has the answer that fits each case. Titanium remains the gold standard for its evidence, strength, and biocompatibility. Zirconia is a valid alternative in specific situations. Dental implant materials keep evolving, but the decision should always be based on an individualized diagnosis, not on trends.

At Clínica Dental Fernando Soria, we choose the material for each implant after a complete digital assessment. If you’d like to know which material would be best for your case, book your assessment and we’ll explain it with the data in front of you.

 

CLÍNICA DENTAL FERNANDO SORIA, MADRID

Phone: 91 445 16 36 / 610 42 79 78

Email: atencionalpaciente@fernandosoria.com