12 upvotes, 4 direct replies (showing 4)
View submission: Amazing how it can be life changing
Do the metal bolts in the gums not hurt? Or corrode?
Comment by Knittin_Kitten71 at 10/03/2025 at 14:41 UTC*
44 upvotes, 2 direct replies
They’re not usually steel, as stated by a different commenter in the thread. They’re titanium. Steel is an iron alloy (made from iron and carbon) and isn’t body-compatible meaning it can corrode in the human body and/or cause allergic reactions because of the other elements in the alloy. They’re also definitely not “survival” steel. That’s a meaningless label applied by the makers of hunting knives. They’d be stainless steel, which uses a specific amount of chromium to prevent corrosion.
Titanium isn’t an alloy, and is used in implants because it won’t corrode and is less likely be rejected as a foreign body by our bodies or to trigger allergic reactions. It also fuses with the jaw bone better than steel, and the color is a better match for our teeth.
The main factor between the two is known allergies and metal sensitivities and cost. Titanium is more expensive, but far superior for internal applications like implants than steel.
Edit to correct a word; see below.
Comment by Fish-Weekly at 10/03/2025 at 13:56 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I am not a dentist but I have a dental implant and I believe these work in a similar way. They drill into the jaw bone and screw in a post and then let the bone heal. Then they use that as the anchor(s), make a small cut in the gum and attach it all to the post.
Comment by Vark675 at 10/03/2025 at 13:56 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I have a stud in my jaw that unfortunately never got a tooth on it, but no it never hurts and it's never corroded or damaged the surrounding tissue/bone. It's survival grade steel, same type they'd use in a hip replacement or bone screws.
Comment by xenelef290 at 10/03/2025 at 16:07 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Titanium