Zirconia Implants in Esthetic Areas: 4-Year Follow-Up Evaluation Study.

Andrea Enrico Borgonovo,Virna Vavassori,Oscar Arnaboldi,Rachele Censi,Carlo Maiorana,Dino Re

doi:10.1155/2015/415029

Abstract

Objectives. The aim is to evaluate the survival and success rates, as well as the marginal bone loss (MBL) and periodontal indexes of zirconia implants positioned in the esthetic jaw areas. Materials and Method. 13 patients were selected and 20 one-piece zirconia implants were used for the rehabilitation of single tooth or partially edentulous ridge in the esthetic jaw areas. Six months after surgery and then once a year, a clinical-radiographic evaluation was performed in order to estimate peri-implant tissue health and marginal bone loss. Results. The survival and success rates were 100%. The average marginal bone loss from baseline to 48 months after surgery was +2.1 mm. Four years after surgery, the median and the mode for visible Plaque Index and Bleeding On Probing resulted 1 whereas Probing Pocket Depth amounted to 3 mm (SD = ±0.49 mm). Conclusion. One-piece zirconia dental implants are characterized by high biocompatibility, low plaque adhesion, and absence of microgap that can be related to the clinical success of these implants even in the esthetic areas.

Highlights

The original concept of implant surgery as described by Branemark [1] is that the fixture is placed in the bone and completely covered by mucoperiosteal flaps
The aim of this study is to evaluate the survival and success rates, the marginal bone loss (MBL), radiographic measurements, and periodontal indexes (Plaque Index (PI), Bleeding On Probing (BOP), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), and implant mobility) of zirconia dental implants positioned in the maxillary and mandibular esthetic areas
Considering the maxillary implants, 10 zirconia dental implants were used for the rehabilitation of single or multiple cases of edentulism in the incisor region; 3 implants replaced the canines, and the other 4 maxillary implants were placed in place of the missing first premolars

Summary

Introduction

The original concept of implant surgery as described by Branemark [1] is that the fixture is placed in the bone and completely covered by mucoperiosteal flaps. The first ceramic material that was used in the past for dental implants was aluminium oxide. This material showed good osseointegration but it did not have sufficient mechanical properties for long-term loading [10]. Zirconia is characterized by more favorable mechanical properties (high flexural strength (900– 1200 Mpa), hardness (1200 Vickers), and Weibull modulus (10–12)) than aluminium oxide. This biomaterial has a high biocompatibility and low plaque adhesion [11], and several animal studies showed bone-to-implant contact similar to titanium [5, 6, 12]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion