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ePaper created 2017-03-27, 11:44:32 | version 1.38.0
IMPLANT TRIBUNE The World’s Implantology Newspaper · United Kingdom Edition Ceramic dental implants: What benefi ts do they offer? By Brendan Day, DTI mlthough the search for metal-free implant materials began in the late 1960s, recent improvements in ce- ramic materials have made their development process considerably easier. ms an alternative to tita- nium-based implants, ceramic im- plants offer greater aesthetic ap- peal and possess antiallergenic and tissue-friendly properties. This arti- cle highlights some of the compa- nies that currently offer ceramic implants and explore why they are still much less commonly used than their titanium counterparts. For the better part of four dec- ades, titanium and titanium-alloy dental implants have been suc- cessfully used as tooth replace- ments. However, recent research i ndings have raised fears regard- ing these implants’ tendency to corrode and decay. During the cor- rosion process, titanium implants release particles or ions into their surrounding tissue, which could lead to implant failure and bone disintegration. A 2014 paper pub- lished in the Open Journal of Stomatology, titled “Corrosion as- pect of dental implants—An over- view and literature review”, de- tailed this process by explaining that the compatibility of titanium implants is largely the result of a thin layer of oxide that forms on their surface. This layer can erode due to movements between bone tissue and the implant during implants that allow for more l exi- ble placement options and better healing. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry estimates that, while three million Americans currently have at least one dental implant, this number is rising by half a million each year. Given the growing global demand for dental implants, it is more important than ever to provide patients with options that best suit their indi- vidual needs. Although they are an expensive option, ceramic im- plants are increasingly meeting the standards for stability, com- patibility and osseointegration that titanium-based implants have set. Combining this with their aesthetic appeal and anti- allergenic nature, ceramic im- plants should continue to grow in popularity. “Ceramic implants today, in my experience and for many fel- low ceramic implantologists, have the same success rate as titanium implants. They are now as versa- tile as metal implants thanks to the evolution in design, surface enhancement protocols and bio- material improvements”, says Dr Sammy Noumbisssi, President of the International Academy of Ceramic Implantology (IAOCI), an association entirely dedicated to ceramic alternatives of metal-based AD loading conditions, which could lead to corrosion, leaking and an overall weakening of the implant. Given their non-metallic nature, ceramic implants are not suscepti- ble to this form of decay. However, the lack of concrete evidence concerning the mechan- ical properties and osseointegra- tion of ceramic implants has im- peded their uptake, although this is partially due to their relative newness. The FDA only approved ceramic implants in 2007. Addi- tionally, there have also been rela- tively few clinical studies con- ducted on their long-term use. However, in the Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research journal, a 2015 study of zirconia implant abutments that sup- ported entirely ceramic crowns found that after 11 years of use, these abutments had a cumula- tive success rate of 96.3 per cent. In addition, a 2010 study in the jour- nal for Clinical Oral Implants Re- search found that the osseointe- gration of zirconia implants is similar to that of titanium im- plants. Despite these positive i nd- ings, the sheer lack of depth in re- search has deterred the majority of dental professionals from using ceramic implants. The one-piece design of ce- ramic implants is another ele- ment that has both positive attrib- utes and drawbacks. A one-piece implant eliminates the connec- tive point between the abutment and the i xture, ideally reducing bacterial growth and improving overall oral health. However, a high level of attention to detail with regards to the implant’s placement is required, as it does not possess the same capability as titanium implants to correct er- rors in placement with an angled abutment. This inability to correct errors in placement created the demand for two-piece ceramic Dental Tribune International ESSENTIAL DENTAL MEDIA www.dental-tribune.com