21AAP-FCE9: Zirconia Implants: The New Kid on the Block

Speaker: Wael Att

Medical-grade commercially pure titanium or titanium alloy has been the gold standard material for the fabrication of dental implants. The excellent clinical outcome of titanium implants is well documented.  There are some biological and technical concerns about titanium implants, along with the patient-specific requests for metal-free treatment and the concept of holistic medicine. Although not yet evidence-based, these concerns have pushed the search for alternative implant materials. Among which, zirconia has been undergoing extensive experimental and clinical research to evaluate its feasibility as an alternative implant material that may potentially guarantee a successful long-term outcome. This course provides an overview about the current status of zirconia implants, their clinical performance as well as the integrity of the implant-restoration complex integrity.

Educational Objectives:
• Review fundamentals related to zirconia materials and implants.
• Assess the clinical performance of zirconia implants as well as implant-restorative
• Develop guidelines when to consider zirconia implants and how to apply them in daily practice.