Medical Insider–Dr Rhoda entero

All That You Need to Know About Zirconia Dental Implants

Part 2 

The Introduction of Zirconia in Dentistry

Zirconia is different from earlier forms of all-ceramic restorations. It’s not only used in implant dentistry due to its comparative toughness to metal implants. It’s also used for teeth due to its combination of form and function or excellent dental aesthetics that match the original teeth coupled with superior strength compared to other types of all-ceramic prosthodontics.

Biomedical Properties: After the Swedish chemist JönsJakob Berzelius first isolated zirconia, it took about 150 years before it was considered for usage in biomedical applications. 

It was Helmer and Driskell who published that scientific study of zirconia’s medical viability back in 1969. 

Afterwards, in 1972, Garvie and Nicholson discovered that alloying zirconia with oxides like magnesia, yttria, and calcia could stabilize its tetragonal modification, which long story short helped produce ceramics with notable crack resistance needed for dental restorations.

Dental Implant Advancements Through Zirconia: In the 1980s, the metal dental implant used to only have two parts—the abutment where the prosthetic crown is placed and cemented and the fixture or post that’s screwed then fused right into the jawbone. 

The emergence and experimentation of zirconia for dental purposes made it possible for an abutment to be part of the fixture as one whole implant piece in the 2000s. 

Additionally, zirconia made it possible for the abutment to be made of remarkably tough ceramic. This material is notable for its tissue-friendliness. It’s not as gum irritating as titanium.

One-Piece Zirconia Implants: By 2005, full ceramic implants made of zirconia were introduced to Europe. They combined the abutment and fixture together for form, function, aesthetic, and health purposes. 

By 2011, the FDA approved use of these zirconia implants in all the clinics in the U.S.A. The main claim to fame of this implant type is that it has no prosthetic connections that can serve as a Petri dish of bacterial growth. 

Your gum health is assured by using zirconia implants as your titanium implant alternative.

Metal Allergy: There are a percentage of patients who have metal allergy and cannot take having metal fused to their bone as part of an implant procedure. 

All-ceramic or zirconia implants serve as the alternative to titanium implants and even metal dental restorations. Its dental applications are myriad, thusly including things like zirconia dental implants and abutments, crowns and bridges, and dental posts, among other restoration options. (To be continued)