In recent years, cremation has become an increasingly popular choice over traditional burial methods, but if you have implants, what happens to them?
Dental implant materials withstand high temperatures and remain after the cremation process is completed. As the technology and methods in the dental world have progressed and evolved, technicians have developed the technology to create realistic, almost indistinguishable copies of real teeth.
These impressive implants are often made of titanium. They’re high-quality pieces that often remain with their owner for life—but if cremation is chosen as the burial method, what happens in the stages afterward?
How do dental implants affect the process of cremation?
What are dental implants?
Dental implants have given patients with decaying or extremely broken teeth a second shot at a brand new smile. With the advancement of technology, not only has the method itself improved, but the cost has as well.
Replacing absent or damaged teeth has never been as affordable as it is now—making dental implants a possibility for people who never would have dreamed of it previously.
It’s no wonder that in recent years, the dental industry has seen a boom in patients opting to get implants.
What challenges do implants present for the cremation process?
The wonders of the medical world have developed an array of replacement body parts: from prosthetic hips to fake knees, non-synthetic materials making their way into the body is increasingly common.
The funeral and burial field and cremation methods needed to evolve and develop alongside these changes in the medical world.
Because of this, it is not uncommon for bodies to have metal like dental implant materials still remaining when the cremation process begins.
These metals, if left, actually pose an environmental hazard.
Because none of the dental implant materials are biodegradable, they are environmental hazards that sit in landfills indefinitely unless they are properly recycled.
How can implant materials be recycled?
The good news is that the cremation process can still take place even if there are dental implant materials or other metals present. Thankfully, methods have been developed to remove environmentally damaging materials before burial.
The options are either to dispose of them or recycle them, with recycling being the most eco-friendly, mindful option.
The increased popularity of dental implants has called for the need of earth-conscious recycling services which collect the metal and facilitate their reuse.
Benefits of recycling dental implants
The decision to recycle dental implants is one that is morally and environmentally sound. Normally, with the help of magnets, the remaining metal is removed. It is a humane and unobtrusive practice that seriously reduces the negative environmental impacts of a burial.
Often, these metals are melted down, and reused in items like wind turbines and cars.
Overall, the increased popularity of synthetic body parts such as dental implants has presented new challenges for the funeral industry.
However, earth-conscious businesses have risen to the challenge and taken on the responsibility of offering services to recycle these materials in morally sound ways.
Hi, my name is Kevin Moore. I was born in San Diego, CA and studied at the University of San Diego. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with interested people and have years of experience in the field of business, health . information technology.
