Ceramics / Implantology

What are ceramic implants?

Ceramic implants are a modern dental prosthesis that is used after tooth loss (e.g. due to an accident, illness or poor dental hygiene). They are made of high-quality, metal-free zirconium oxide ceramic and are an absolutely biocompatible alternative to titanium implants.

The structure of the ceramic implant is not significantly different compared to a conventional titanium implant. Only the implant screw is made of a special, high-strength ceramic consisting of zirconium oxide. This is a very stable and unbreakable material, which is why it is particularly suitable for use in medicine and dentistry. In contrast to titanium implants, ceramic implants are very often used as a one-piece system. In principle, however, there are both one-piece and two-piece implant types, each with specific advantages and disadvantages as well as special shapes.

In contrast to conventional titanium implants, modern ceramic implantology has many special features that need to be taken into account and require some experience on the part of the user.

When are ceramic implants used?

Titanium dentures have been used successfully by dentists for years. They have a high stability and a good healing rate, but over the years a very high proportion of the implants placed (approx. 10-60, depending on the study and definition criteria) develop a high healing rate. Titanium implants are not an option for patients with intolerances or allergic reactions who are concerned about the stress on their organism caused by metals. In this case, ceramic implants are a better and now well-proven alternative to replace missing teeth. For holistic reasons, we have been using metal-free ceramic implants made of zirconium dioxide in my practice with great success since 2005.

In our holistic concept of biological dentistry, the absence of metal is a basic principle from an immunological and allergological point of view.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of ceramic implants?

The advantages of a ceramic implant are

• Very well tolerated by the organism

While metallic implants release small particles into the tissue after a certain time, this is not the case with ceramic. The material (zirconium oxide) is strong enough not to be softened by your saliva or rubbed off by chewing movements, which could release substances. Zirconium oxide is completely metal-free, which makes it particularly biocompatible and, unlike metals, no allergies or intolerances can develop. Numerous studies have shown that ceramic is very well tolerated by natural tissue, as it is completely immunologically neutral. This means that subliminal inflammation and toxic effects of your dental implant can be ruled out. In addition, the bone tissue of the jaw quickly grows onto the implant, creating a permanent and secure bond between the bone and the dental implant.

• Immunological neutrality

In contrast to titanium implants, where numerous studies have shown that titanium oxide particles from titanium implants repeatedly enter the organism (locally, lymph nodes, organs) due to corrosion (tribocorrosion) and cause local inflammation of the gums and jawbone, as well as often causing systemic stress due to the spread of inflammatory mediators and inflammatory and immunological reaction chains.

• Aesthetics

If you want a more aesthetic result, you should opt for ceramic implants. Due to their white color, they do not shine through the gums, as would be the case with titanium. This is particularly advantageous for the front teeth. In addition, the color of the ceramic implant matches the shade of the natural teeth. If your gums recede a little, a ceramic implant is much less noticeable.

• Better gum attachment

Ceramic is not only characterized by high compatibility, your gums also like to attach to the ceramic implant. Studies have shown that gums actually attach better to ceramic than to the natural tooth. This prevents bacteria from penetrating between the tooth and tissue. In contrast to titanium implants, you do not have to expect gum recession with ceramic implants.

• Low risk of ignition

The risk of inflammation is also low with ceramic implants. Bacteria hardly ever collect on the neutral surface of the ceramic implant as they do not like the material. This means that inflammation around the dental implant (peri-implantitis) can be prevented and the new tooth heals naturally and completely into the healthy tissue.

• Better cleanability due to lower plaque affinity than with metal implants

The disadvantages include:

• Less long-term experience

In contrast to titanium implants, ceramic implants have decades of experience, but hardly any long-term studies. However, this does not mean that you cannot trust them. Ongoing studies indicate that ceramic implants have a good longevity.

I have placed and restored several thousand ceramic implants in my practice since 2005. The success rate is around 97%.

• slightly higher costs

As the material zirconium oxide is more expensive than titanium and the production of the ceramic implant is also more complex, slightly higher costs are to be expected compared to conventional titanium implants. However, as we can solve many cases in just 3 treatment sessions thanks to our extremely successful concepts of immediate implantation with ceramic implants, the so-called secondary costs such as travel, loss of working hours etc. are often reduced, so that the bottom line is that there is often no significant difference.

• Reduced flexibility of the body parts

In contrast to titanium implants, ceramic implants are less flexible due to their structure and material.

Therefore, when positioning ceramic implants, the utmost attention must be paid to an optimal implant position. The main area of application for ceramic implants is the restoration of fixed teeth. Only in rare cases are removable dentures anchored on ceramic implants.

Who are ceramic implants suitable for?

In principle, ceramic implants are suitable for all adults, regardless of age, provided there is sufficient jaw bone volume. If this is not the case, simultaneous or prior bone augmentation may be necessary before implants can be placed. The scope of application ranges from individual implants to close gaps to the restoration of completely edentulous upper and lower jaws with fixed dentures. Ceramic implants are particularly suitable as immediate implants with immediate insertion of a fixed, attractive temporary restoration, especially in the case of a complete restoration of one or both jaws (so-called “all-in-one” restoration with fixed new teeth on the same day), in which several dead teeth are extracted, for example. If you have malocclusions or suffer from teeth grinding and clenching, therapeutic measures should first be taken to prevent the risk of damage caused by unnaturally high pressure when chewing.

Ceramic implants are particularly recommended for sensitive patients and allergy sufferers, as they do not release any particles into the body due to corrosion. Ceramic implants are also particularly suitable for tooth loss in highly visible areas, e.g. front teeth, due to their white color. Ceramic implants are also a good option for periodontitis patients and people with chronic diseases, e.g. rheumatism, allergies or titanium intolerance.

What alternatives are there to ceramic implants?

Titanium has been used for dental implants for decades, but in addition to the advantage of fairly reliable healing, it has some of the disadvantages mentioned above, which we would like to avoid for our patients in our holistic concept of biological dentistry. In modern biological dentistry, metal-free implants are implanted with ceramic implants

How much do ceramic implants cost?

If you opt for ceramic implants, you can expect higher costs than with conventional titanium implants. The reasons for this are:

• Zirconium oxide ceramic is significantly more expensive
• Due to very complex manufacturing processes, the production costs are higher
• Higher treatment costs, as ceramic implants represent a greater expense for the dentist