Dental implants are one of the best ways to replace missing teeth. Typically, implants are made of titanium but zirconia implants have been used for decades in Europe and in 2011, received FDA approval in the United States. Dental implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth and can even support a full set of dentures on one or both arches. Additionally, dental implants support bone health whereas traditional options can actually lead to bone deterioration in the jaw, causing changes to the facial structures and ill-fitting restorations.
Bone health is supported by the roots of our teeth which through speaking and chewing, help stimulate bone regeneration. When a tooth is lost, the bone in that area no longer has the same stimulating support and will begin to break down. Dental implants are essentially an artificial tooth root and act just the same in supporting bone health.
Titanium has been the most commonly used material for dental implants since about the 1960s and has a proven success rate of about 95% to 97%. Patients who suffer from metal allergies may not be able to have titanium implants even though they are incredibly biocompatible, which simply means that they have the ability to act naturally within our body. Fortunately, zirconia has a comparable biocompatibility to titanium and may be appropriate for patients with metal allergies. The long-term success of zirconia implants has not been adequately studied since it is still young in the dental field.
Zirconia Dental Implants
Zirconia is a white, ceramic crystalline material derived from zirconium, which is a metal in the titanium family but is still safe for most patients with metal allergies. Dentists who practice holistic dentistry are more likely to use zirconia implants on their patients since the biocompatibility of zirconia is an excellent option for those who prefer metal-free dentistry.
Zirconia is easily color matched to the patient's natural tooth structure and is less likely to retain plaque and calculus buildup than titanium implants, making it a better choice for gum health. Along with their proven health benefits, dental implants in general are more aesthetically pleasing than other tooth replacement restorations, zirconia in particular maintaining a more natural look for a longer period of time than titanium implants. Additionally, zirconia has a great record of osseointegration.
Osseointegration is the bond formed between the jaw bone and the implant and zirconia has shown great osseointegration properties comparable to that of titanium, allowing the implant to fully fuse with the jaw bone just as well as titanium.
As we age, gum tissue can naturally begin to recede from tooth structure, allowing implant parts to begin to show at the gum line. Since titanium implants are silver, it can cause an unnatural looking appearance. While the implant crown for a titanium implant is always color matched to the rest of the patient's teeth, zirconia implants come in two pieces, both of which are color matched, and allow for a customized implant and abutment as well as implant crown, providing a more individualized result. So even if gum recession occurs, the aesthetics remain.
The only real drawback of zirconia implants is low-temperature degradation. This degradation can result in damage to the mechanical properties of the implant, leading to a reduction in strength, durability, and density of the material.
Zirconia Dental Implants: Advantages
Aesthetics
Since zirconia implants are tooth colored as well as the crown, there is no risk of metal showing at the gum line due to gum recession. Titanium implants run a risk of a gray appearance and tissue discoloration at the implant site in patients that experience gum recession due to periodontal disease or age.
Biocompatibility
Zirconia has proven biocompatibility properties equalling that of titanium plus an added bonus of resisting corrosion. The surface of a zirconia implant is able to resist plaque accumulation better than titanium, which helps prevent peri-implantitis and periodontal disease, both of which can ultimately lead to implant failure.
Holistic
Patients who prefer metal-free dentistry or have a metal allergy have a great alternative with zirconia restorations, including zirconia implants. Even though titanium allergies are rare, some with metal allergies may have difficulty with dental restorations that contain metal properties. Even though zirconia is derived from a component in the metal family, it is not a pure metal, which is what causes titanium implants to fail in patients with metal allergies.
Zirconia Dental Implants: Disadvantages
Durability
Zirconia is incredibly strong but it is more brittle than titanium which means that it is more susceptible to fracture when forces are applied that can cause the implant to flex or bend.
Longevity
Titanium implants have a proven success rate between 95% and 97% and have the studies to show it. Zirconia implants are still considered very young in the field of dentistry and do not yet have the same studies to show long-term success.
Design
Zirconia limits your dentist’s ability to customize your implant. Because zirconia implants are still new, design improvements have only been made in the past few years. Limitations on the availability of different zirconia parts can also pose a challenge to your dentist as they try to provide the best possible custom results. Additionally, zirconia may not be suitable for patients that require extensive restoration treatment, such as a full set of implant-supported dentures.
Titanium implants have studies supporting biocompatibility and high success rate because they have been used for so long. Not everyone is comfortable with a new product but zirconia has proven to be a promising alternative for titanium, especially in patients who prefer metal-free dentistry and those who have metal allergies. Zirconia implants are a safe and effective alternative available to patients who need more than one option in titanium.
Not everyone is a candidate for dental implants so it is important to understand all of the treatment options available to you. If your dentist determines that you are a candidate for dental implants, make sure you are well informed of the advantages and disadvantages of titanium and zirconia. Dental implants are considered a permanent restoration and can last a lifetime!