Zirconia Dental Implants
Following approval by the FDA, zirconia dental implants have become a more common option for patients who are interested in having missing teeth replaced. Titanium implants have been the traditional type of implant used since the 1960s. Although titanium implants have a very high success and patient satisfaction rate, a growing body of research indicates that some patients, particularly patients who have a metal sensitivity or allergy or patients who have thinner gums may have better results with zirconia dental implants.
Although zirconia implants do contain small metallic atoms, it is not classified as a metal and will not provoke a response among patients who have metal sensitivity or allergies. Zirconia implants are also white in color and can provide a more natural looking appearance, as there is no chance of the darker metal showing through the gums.
Please refer to the following overview to learn more about the difference between zirconia and titanium dental implants. If you have additional questions about either procedure, schedule an appointment with your periodontist.
Pros of Zirconia Dental Implants
The biggest benefits to zirconia dental implants is that they are the only metal-free option for implanting new dentures and they can provide an improved aesthetic appearance. For these reasons, zirconia implants are most often recommended for patients with metal allergies or who have thin gums.
More benefits that are uniquely attributed to zirconia dental implants include:
- Reduced risk of plaque formation and infection: Plaque and calculus are more likely to develop with titanium dental implants, which can result in the patient developing peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis in turn increases the risk of complications developing and/or the implant ultimately failing.
- No risk of galvanic or battery effects: Zirconia dental implants are poor electrical and thermal conductors.
- Reduced risks associated with dental cement: Compared to titanium dental implants, zirconia dental implants are less likely to have issues related to excess dental cement, which can cause an inflammatory response that can lead to peri-implantitis. While there is still a chance this issue will develop with zirconia dental implants, the higher biocompatibility of zirconia dental implants may be a significant factor in reducing this risk.
- Natural looking: If you are concerned about tissue discoloration or grayness being visible following your implant procedure, you may be a better candidate for zirconia dental implants. Unlike titanium implants, which have a darker color, zirconium dental implants are shaded white, which more naturally blends with teeth. This may be an especially important factor to consider for patients who are having implants placed in the aesthetic, highly visible region of their mouth and/or for patients who have thinner gums. On the other hand, this issue will be less significant for patients who are having their implants placed in their back teeth or for patients whose gums are naturally thicker.
- Eliminates the chance of a reaction due to metal sensitivity/allergy: For patients who have a sensitivity or allergy to metals, or for those who have not been tested for metal sensitivity/allergies, perhaps the biggest advantage to zirconia dental implants is that they are the only metal-free dental implant option on the market. While metal has not been proven to be harmful when used in periodontal procedures, it is important to be aware of the various types of metals that may comprise a traditional dental implant, which may include, but is not limited to: Manganese, Iron, Tin, Chromium, Molybdenum, Vanadium, Niobium, Tungsten, Zinc, and Nickle.
- Highly effective at fusing with the jawbone (osseointegration)
- Less likely to fracture
- Corrosion resistant
Cons of Zirconia Dental Implants
While these qualities make zirconia dental implants a compelling treatment option, there are some drawbacks associated with this procedure, which include the following:
- Susceptible to degradation: Perhaps the biggest drawback to zirconia dental implants is that they are susceptible to low-temperature degradation, which results in the implant losing strength, density and toughness over time. Zirconia dental implants are also more likely to crack compared to titanium dental implants.
- Not as vetted: Although the success rate of zirconia dental implants is as high as traditional titanium dental implants, unlike titanium dental implants, which have been used for over sixty years with great results, zirconia dental implants are still a relatively new procedure. As such, there are no comparable longitudinal studies supporting their efficacy or detailing any underlying risks uniquely attributable to them.
- Uncertainty around the efficacy of one or two piece implants: There are also many unanswered questions about whether there is greater efficacy in using a one piece or a two piece zirconia implant, and/or what situations either of these implants would be more likely to yield positive results for the patient. While evidence suggests that there may be a correlation between two-piece implants failing due to aseptic loosening, this is still not known to definitively be an underlying cause of implant failure. Because there is evidence to suggest two-piece implants are more susceptible to failure, some periodontists opt to use a one-piece implant; however, there is also evidence that one-piece zirconia dental implants are actually more prone to failure than two-piece implants due to their being a greater likelihood of improper placement due to reduced abutment angulation.
- Cannot be used for complex rehabilitation or implant supported dentures: Patients who require extensive rehabilitation such as having all of their teeth replaced will not be viable candidates for zirconia dental implants, which do not provide the same level of variety in the size, angulation and purpose of components that titanium dental implants do.
How to Decide if Zirconia Dental Implants Are Right For You
While there are benefits and drawbacks to either zirconia or titanium dental implants, either solution has a high success rate and high patient satisfaction rate. To determine which is right for you, schedule an appointment with your periodontist, who will perform a thorough evaluation of your overall oral health, assess the severity of your case, and determine whether one treatment option may be better suited to your specific needs and treatment goals.