Zirconia Dental Implants
Over the past ten years following FDA approval, more and more clinics have begun offering zirconia dental implants to their clients. The traditional material type for dental implants has been titanium implants, which have been the industry standard since the1960s. With a success rate of 94-97%, titanium implants are considered a very safe and highly effective solution for correcting missing teeth; however, there is a growing body of research that supports zirconia dental implants as being a better option for some patients. Additionally, there is a growing sentiment among people who are leery of the impact putting metal into one’s body can have on their overall safety and health. While titanium implants are backed by research as being safe for most patients, it is possible for some patients to have a sensitivity or allergy to the metal in the alloy of the implant, an issue that would be eliminated by placing a Zirconia dental implant instead.
Zirconia is a transitional metal that is white in color and made of a ceramic material that contains non-metal with covalent or ionic bonds and an inorganic compound of metalloid or metal. While zirconia implants contain metallic atoms, its metal oxide structure means it is not classified as a metal, as the oxide changes its behavior and composition structure. Zirconia implants can come as one or two-pieces, though two-piece implants are often recommended as the customized abutments result in the best patient outcomes.
To learn more about the different qualities and characteristics of Zirconia dental implants compared to traditional titanium implants, please refer to the following. As you consider your treatment options, it is important to have a clear understanding of what treatment options are available to you and which treatments most closely align with your specific treatment goals.
Benefits of Zirconia Dental Implants
Zirconia dental implants are the only option available for patients who wish to receive metal-free dentistry. This is an especially helpful alternatives for patients with metal sensitivities or allergies. Zirconia implants will also eliminate any chance of dark lines being visible around the gums, which may occur with titanium implants, especially for patients who have thinner gums.
Additional benefits of zirconia dental implants include the following:
- Studies suggest that because Zirconia retains less calculus and plaque compared to titanium (especially one-piece zirconia implants), there is a reduced risk of infections and plaque formation that occurs around zirconia implants compared to titanium implants. By reducing the risk of peri-implantitis, the likelihood of implant failure or complications may also be less.
- Titanium dental implants sometimes utilize dental cement to secure the implant. If too much cement is used, or if there is overflow, the patient may develop an inflammatory response, which can lead to peri-implantitis. In the case studies reported so far, there have been no reported incidences of peri-implantitis among patients who had zirconia dental implants placed. This may be due to its high biocompatibility, however more research needs to be conducted.
- Zirconia dental implants are very corrosion-resistant
- Zirconia dental implants eliminate any concern of battery or galvanic effects because they are a poor thermal and electrical conductor
Compared to other ceramics, Zirconia has superior fracture toughness - Zirconia implants are as effective if not more effective as titanium dental implants in fusing with the jawbone (osseointegration)
- One of the most popular qualities of zirconia implants is that they have a tooth-like color, compared to the dark color of titanium implants. For some patients who have thicker gums or who require implants for their back teeth, this aesthetic quality will not make a big difference; however, patients who have thinner gums or who require implants be placed in the aesthetic zone may benefit from having zirconia implants, as this will remove the risk of grayness or tissue discoloration being visible through the gingiva
Finally, one of the most compelling reasons to opt for zirconia dental implants over titanium dental implants is for patients who have a sensitivity or are allergic to metals. Prior to deciding which implant type to pursue, it is highly recommended that patients get tested for metal allergies. Although rare, if the test comes back positive, zirconia dental implants would be the safer option of the two. This is especially important because of the variety of types of metals that may be part of the titanium implant, which may include (in addition to titanium): Nickle, Tungsten, Zinc, Niobium, Zirconium, Molybdenum, Vanadium, Tin, Chromium, Manganese, and Iron.
Drawbacks of Zirconia Dental Implants
While these benefits make zirconia dental implants a very attractive option, it is important to also consider some of their drawbacks, one of the biggest being low-temperature degradation over time, which can result in the implant material losing toughness, density and strength.
Another big drawback of zirconia dental implants compared to titanium implants is that they have not been as vetted as titanium implants, which have been the go-to procedure and which are backed by decades of research supporting their efficacy. Zirconia dental implants, on the other hand, only have two or three-year survival rate case studies, and while the survival rates of these studies are very high, that is still not an extensive period of time to rely on for assured long-term efficacy.
As such, there still remain some unanswered questions surrounding the efficacy of zirconia implants, especially between whether the one piece or two piece zirconia implant is more effective and under what circumstances. For example, it is believed that many of the failures of two-piece implants can be attributed to aseptic loosening, but this remains unconfirmed.
Because of these issues, some periodontists opt to use a one-piece implant, but there are several drawbacks or risks associated with the one-piece implant that also need to be kept in mind. For example, the surgical positioning of the one-piece implant can be compromised due to reduced abutment angulation. If a one-piece implant is not optimally placed, the physical properties of the material may degrade. There is also the difficulty of requiring a load-free healing period to consider as well.
Additional drawbacks of Zirconia dental implants include:
- Higher likelihood of cracking compared to titanium dental implants
- Not a viable option for implant supported dentures or for patients who require complex rehabilitation. This is especially true for patients who need all of their teeth replaced. These patients require extensive planning and the flexibility of utilizing various components to address their unique needs. In comparison to Zirconia dental implants, titanium implant systems offer a much wider variety of component options that vary in size, angulation and purpose and are better suited to meet these type of patient’s needs.
Are Zirconia Dental Implants Right For Me?
While neither Zirconia dental implants or titanium dental implants can be considered a “perfect” solution, the good news is that both treatment options have very high success rates and high patient satisfaction rates and will most likely be an effective solution to correct your missing teeth.
Whether zirconia dental implants are right for you largely depends on your whether you have a metal allergy or metal sensitivity and your specific treatment goals. The best way to decide whether to pursue treatment using zirconia or titanium dental implants is to schedule a consultation with your periodontist. This will provide you with an opportunity to share your concerns and personal treatment preferences and for your periodontist to explain in detail whether they feel one approach is better suited to help you achieve optimal results, keeping in mind factors like functionality, aesthetic appearance, procedural risks, limitations, and any other pertinent characteristics.