Today, Titanium is not the only material manufactured for tooth implants and so it is important to be aware of all the options available to you. No matter what you are considering for dental implants, we can provide you with a comprehensive range of information. As a holistic/biomimetic dentist, our goal is to provide for our holistic dental patients, absolute metal-free restorative dentistry which not only includes zirconia implants, but crowns and bridges, pressed all-ceramic crowns, porcelain veneers as well as invisible tooth-colored fillings.
Ceramic options are proven holistic, aesthetic and hygienic over other their metal counterparts.
Are zirconia dental implants better than titanium?
Studies have shown that titanium and zirconia implants have a very similar bone to implant contact. This is the amount of bone that is in contact with the implant and determines the stability of the implant in the patient’s mouth. s we discussed above, it is important to understand the potential benefits, limitations, risks, and other factors associated with zirconia implants. Here is what you need to know when deciding between zirconia and titanium dental implants:
Titanium Allergies. Perhaps the biggest concern patients have is if they will be allergic to titanium. In fact, it is extremely rare for people to have a true allergy to titanium.Studies have shown an extremely low prevalence rate of 0.6% of patients being allergic to titanium. Patch tests have limited use due to poor sensitivity and the test validated to detect titanium sensitization is MELISA test. This test has also been known to show false positives.
Zirconia implants usually cannot be left to heal under the gums. The process by which dental implant fixate to the bone is called osseointegration. This process usually takes about 6 months to complete. When dental implants are surgically placed, they must have a certain torque value or primary stability. Implants that do not have a good primary stability need to be left to heal under the gums for 3-6 months following placement. Most Zirconia dental implants cannot heal under the gums because of their “one-piece” design, meaning that they do not have a removable abutment but one that is fixed to the implant.
Zirconia implants with a small diameter are prone to fracture. Zirconia Implants are more prone to cracking than titanium dental implants. As it was mentioned above, zirconia is very strong in compressive forces but somewhat brittle in elastic forces. It is for this reason that small diameter zirconia implants are contraindicated. Often times in implant dentistry, the dentist must utilize a small diameter implant in the range of 3.0mm-3.75mm due to thin bone or small spaces between the teeth
Zirconia implants are more expensive than titanium implants (about $400 more)
Full-mouth treatments are much more difficult with one-piece abutments. Many implant patients are missing all of their teeth or need all of their teeth replaced. This is a great way to restore confidence, chewing efficiency, and quality of life. Often times, this is life changing for dental implant patients. This type of treatment takes a great amount of planning and execution by the dentist to have superior esthetic and functional results. Custom abutments and screw-retained restorations are usually a requirement for full arch or full mouth implant treatment. Because of zirconia implants one-piece design, it makes it more complicated to do full mouth restorations, such as the ‘ALL-ON-4’
Conclusion on zirconia dental implants
Both titanium and zirconia are very bioinert materials, meaning that they do not cause local inflammation and are not rejected by the body. It is because of this reason that these are the two materials of choice for the abutment portion of the implant system. The abutment is the piece of the implant system that connects the dental crown or the tooth in the mouth to the implant that is in the jawbone. We do not have to use zirconia implants to achieve predictable, and natural-looking restorations. However, there are certain indications where zirconia implants can be used for patients that prefer zirconia over titanium. And that is the main reason we offer the Z-Systems zirconia implants.
