Pub. 7 2017 Issue 3

10 AT THE CENTER OF UTAH INDUSTRY TITANIUM FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS M ining is integral to our way of life, providing the raw materials to produce the things we use every day. The products made possible by mining raise our standard of living and help us lead healthier lives. You may not think about it, but mining is even critical to dental health. From the dozens of minerals that make up toothpaste, to the metals used for fillings and dental implants, mined prod- ucts help keep your mouth healthy. Titanium is just one example of a mined material used in dentistry. Titanium is valued for its corrosion resistance and strength-to-density ratio, and it can easily be combined with other elements to produce stronger and lighter alloys which can be used for a variety of items from jewelry to missiles. Titanium is especially important for the use of implants in dental and other medical cases because of its compatibility with body tissues. Dental implants have been used since the mid-1960’s but have since become far more widespread. In 1952, Dr. Brånemark and his team discovered that titanium was able to fuse with adjacent bone in a process called osseointegration. From here, they concluded that titanium would be useful in creating an anchor for artificial teeth, making dental implants far easier and more successful. It made it possible to replace not only individual missing teeth, but also create bridges for multiple teeth and dentures. Titanium dental implants provide the following advantages: • More natural looking/feeling implants, • Functionality is the same as natural teeth, • Healthy teeth adjacent to the implant(s) won’t need to be filed down for support – allowing them to remain healthy, • The structure of the bone beneath the implant is maintained, • Can give removable dentures a firm grip, • And no need to use special glue to hold artificial teeth in place. A healthy, beautiful smile…just another benefit of modern mining. Who would have thought? X