In recent years, zirconia dental implants have been making waves in the dental industry.
In fact, they have become so popular, some people are suggesting they may be the future of implant technology.
As usual, here at SDAI we keep up with the latest developments in oral health, so it’s not surprising we are one of the few practices in Australia which offer this metal-free, all-ceramic solution.
The history of zirconia implants
For years titanium was the material of choice when it came to dental implants. Titanium is tough, lasts a long time, and titanium implants look just like normal teeth.
Titanium fuses well with human bone, and is so strong, surgeons use them in hips and knee replacements. In fact, we use titanium implants every day at our practice, and no one has ever requested we replace their titanium implants with zirconia ones.
But technology is always looking for ways to improve, and in recent years a search for alternatives to metal has been underway.
Ceramics led the charge for a suitable replacement, and following numerous experimental studies, zirconium dioxide (zirconia) came to the fore as a potential alternative to metal implants.
The advantages of zirconia dental implants
Zirconia implants are relatively new to the industry, and as such they have the potential to change the game significantly.
Zirconia possesses an extremely high tensile strength, compressive strength, and a huge ratio of elasticity.
On top of that, many find zirconia implants to be more aesthetically appealing. Sometimes with metal implants, the dark colour of the fixture can come through the tooth, giving it a greyish tinge. Zirconia is white and not a metal, so it provides a more natural look.
Because zirconia is a ceramic, there is no metal involved, thus the chance of metal allergy is literally zero.
Choosing zirconia dental implants
Zirconium is a naturally occurring, metal-free, and non-corrosive ceramic. It is completely non-reactive and bio-inert, so it does not exhibit much inflammation and is less prone to infection.
These incredibly tough implants look natural and are easy look after, and while titanium implants are great and the industry standard, zirconia implants are a perfect choice for those who want metal-free implants.
SDAI are Australia’s foremost leader in Implant and Advanced Dental Surgery, and one of the few in the country to use offer zirconia dental implants.
Awarded by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists with the highest of qualifications; we are one of only a handful of practices in Australia to be named a Leading Implant Centre of the World.
We use Straumann Pure as one of our preferred metal-free dental implant system, as it offers a natural and aesthetic approach to implant dentistry and has the most scientific research behind it.
We follow the same rules here as we would in all our personal lives: respect, integrity and honesty – these are the foundations for long-lasting and valuable relationships with our patients.
All of our staff are educated in the latest Health & Safety rules and regulations and will never do anything to compromise your well-being.
We do everything we can to make your dental experience comfortable and relaxed, and to have a full understanding of what’s going on at every stage of treatment.
Contact us today if you have any questions about zirconia dental implants, or if you would like to book a consultation. Our friendly and helpful staff will be more than happy to help.