Ceramic Dental Implants
What Are Zirconia Dental Implants?
A zirconia dental implant is a metal-free, allergy-free, white ceramic material that makes an ideal tooth root replacement and is capped with a ceramic crown. The crown is the replacement tooth and is connected to the implant with an abutment.
Zirconia, also known as zirconium-dioxide is bioinert, which means that it will never trigger chemical reactions, migrate to other sites in the body or corrode. That’s why it’s the non-metal alternative to titanium. Its naturally white color also makes it a great choice for patients.
What Are the Benefits of Zirconia Implants?
Zirconia Implants offer many advantages:
- They are metal free – so are indicated with anyone with a metal or titanium allergy.
- Completely white in color and won’t form a gray line around your gum like titanium implants can
- Have less plaque build-up than metal and titanium parts
- They are very bio-compatible where gingival (gum) health is critical.
- Have equal success as titanium implants
In essence, you have no sacrifice in success or quality of care with zirconia implants.
New Technology in Zirconia Dental Implants
Recently, the systems have advanced to two-piece implant systems similar to titanium implant systems, with digital workflow. Zirconia implant surfaces have less plaque and bacterial adhesion than the surface of titanium implants.
The integration rate – fusion to bone – is now equivalent to titanium implants, making them a great option. Their only disadvantages are they are more costly to manufacture and therefore more costly to purchase, and surgical placement requires technical precision to protocol.
We believe in esthetic situations with titanium allergy patients they are a great option and have been very successful.
We utilize the Z-Systems 2-piece zirconium dioxide implant manufactured in Switzerland.
Interested in Zirconia Dental Implants?
If interested, please come in for a consultation to discuss your particular dental situation and needs.
References:
1. Two-piece zirconia implants in the posterior mandible and maxilla: A cohort study with a follow-up period of 9 years. Brunello et al. Clin Oral Impl Res. 2022;33:1233–1244.
2. 12 weeks: Reverse torque pullouts similar for Zr and titanium implants with roughened surfaces. Hoffman et al. Int J Oral Max Implants 2012 27(2): 352-358
3. Less bacterial adhesion than titanium implants surface.Scarano et al. J Perio 2004 75(2) 292-296