Zirconia Dental Implants
First created in the 1960s, dental implant technology has continued to adapt and evolve over the years. While in some ways the basics of dental implants remain the same – the implantation in of the implant fixture into the jawbone, the addition of the connecting abutment piece, and the function of the prosthetic crown (or, increasingly, the bridge or denture) it retains – the materials, techniques, and number of pieces required has changed, particularly over the course of the past decade.
With the FDA approval of the use of zirconia for these purposes in 2011, more and more dentists and oral surgeons have begun to use zirconia dental implants both alongside and even in favor of the traditional titanium implants. Is one of these materials better than the other, you ask? In many ways, that depends on individual preferences – those of the patient and the dentist.
The following article discusses the differences between these two materials in the creation of dental implants, the benefits and drawbacks of zirconia dental implants, and the questions you may want to consider in choosing a zirconia implant system.
Zirconia versus Titanium Dental Implants
The material that has traditionally been used in dental implants is a metal alloy called titanium. Long prized for its strength and durability, titanium is also highly biocompatible, which means that it is able to be used safely in the body without causing irritation or allergic reactions for most of the population.
However, very few substances have a perfect track record in terms of failing to cause irritation or other reactions, and some people that are allergic or sensitive to certain metals could have sensitivities to titanium, as well. For this reason, zirconia dental implants were created as an alternative to titanium dental implants. Performing the same function and with many of the same components, zirconia dental implants can be used safely by those who may have metal allergies or sensitivities; they can also provide benefits to those without an aversion to titanium.
Composition of Zirconia Dental Implants
In contrast to titanium dental implants, zirconia dental implants are composed of ceramic. White in color, and easier to blend along the gumline, zirconia dental implants are not, however, free to metals. In fact, ceramics are alloys of metals and non-metals, which means that they are not the metal-free alternative that many understand them to be.
They are free of titanium, though, which means that zirconia dental implants are a safe alternative for anyone who may be allergic or sensitive that that particular metal.
Benefits of Zirconia Implants
One of the primary benefits of zirconia implants is that they can make dental implants a possibility for those who are unable to have titanium implants due to metal allergies or sensitivities. This is the main reason that this alternative system was introduced. However, this is far from the only benefit that zirconia dental implants provide.
From a structural standpoint, zirconia has been proven to be at least as biocompatible as titanium. This is an important consideration for dental implants in particular, as their strength and stability stems from the fact that the implant fixture is actually embedded into the jawbone during the initial installation process. The use of a biocompatible material is key here, as this will allow that substance to fuse with the organic tissues of the body in a process known as osseointegration. Zirconia is an excellent material for this use.
Furthermore, zirconia implants are very attractive and difficult to spot in one’s mouth, as they are tooth-like in color. Titanium implants, on the other hand, are grey and metallic looking, and can sometimes be spotted as a tiny bit of silver flashes along the gumline. This tends to happen if and when the prosthetic crown or implant-retained denture supported by a titanium system doesn’t completely cover the abutment that holds it in place.
Finally, zirconia dental implants hare available in either one-piece or two-piece implant systems, in contrast to the traditional three-piece structure of a titanium implant. This can offer some benefit in that less pieces require less intervention; it can also make for a more aesthetically pleasing final product. This can also be a disadvantage, however, as fewer pieces mean that if any part breaks, the whole system may have to be replaced.
Drawbacks of Zirconia Implants
The structural element of zirconia implants is an important one, especially when coupled with the fact that zirconia is more prone to cracking and breaking than titanium is. This means that not only is a zirconia implant more likely to crack or break than a titanium implant, even a simple break will likely require much more invasive forms of repair or even replacement, given the smaller number of pieces involved in its construction. Zirconia implants made of only one piece may have to be replaced entirely, which is a complication that only very rarely occurs with titanium implants.
Additionally, while zirconia is a strong, biocompatible material, studies have demonstrated that it can in fact degrade over time. This means that the strength and durability of the product may wane over time, leading to increased possibilities for breaks, fractures, and even failure of the implant as a whole.
Finally, while titanium implants have been used successfully for over sixty years and numerous studies have been done to demonstrate their longevity and functionality, zirconia implants are new enough that these kinds of long-term longitudinal studies simply haven’t been undertaken as of yet.
How to Decide if Zirconia Dental Implants are Right for You
Choosing a tooth replacement technology can be confusing, and especially when you start looking at different options in terms of materials. Your best resource and source of advice in making a decision like this is your own dentist, who not only has access to the best and most current data, but who is also familiar with you and your unique needs.
For more information about how zirconia implants might work for your tooth replacement needs, call your dentist today for a personalized consultation.