ZIRCONIA IMPLANTS, ARE THERE DIFFERENCES?

03 Jun ZIRCONIA IMPLANTS, ARE THERE DIFFERENCES?

ZIRCONIA AND TITANIUM IMPLANTS, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

Oral implantology is one of the fields in dentistry that has had more advances in recent decades. Dental implants (zirconia implants) are currently the best treatment to replace a missing tooth or one with a hopeless prognosis. Dental implants have different surfaces and materials, in this post, we will discuss zirconia implants and titanium implants.

Traditional implants are made from a material called titanium. Commonly, implants have a threaded shape that allows mechanical anchorage to bone (primary stability). Within weeks, after implant placement, a biological anchor, also called osseointegration (secondary stability), is established. Osseointegration is defined as a direct structural and functional connection between the implant and the bone that is achieved through titanium.

Titanium’s surface has also evolved over time thanks to research. There are now implants with a smooth, rough, or hybrid surface. Rough-surface implants have been shown to have a greater direct bone contact surface compared to smooth surfaces.

Despite decades of titanium as the gold standard in oral implantology, the search for alternatives has been growing. High aesthetic standards and the increasing incidence of allergies to titanium, together with a growing demand for metal-free implants, have led to the proposal of ceramics as possible substitutes. After numerous experimental studies, zirconium has earned its place as a possible substitute for titanium. However, despite the excellent biocompatibility and tissue integration of zirconium, the low affinity for plaque, and favorable biomechanical properties, early failures were significantly greater for zirconium implants than for titanium implants.

Until now, zirconium implants have been manufactured primarily as one-piece implant systems due to material limitations. However, several two-piece systems have gradually emerged with promising results. Innovation and technical advancements have undoubtedly led to a further improvement in the reliability and strength of zirconium implants, enabling new designs, connections, and reconstructions.

At BLASI Clinica Dental Barcelona we have a great experience with both titanium and zirconia implant systems. The type of implant that will be placed will be discussed previously and will meet the patient’s demands.