Edentulous jaws rehabilitation with yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide implants: two years follow-up experience

The aim of this study was to present authors' two-year clinical experience with Yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide implants placed in native bone or regenerated bone.

Yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide implants made of brezirkon (whiteSKY, Bredent medical, Senden, Germany) were used for the treatment of edentulous ridge rehabilitation in the Dental Clinic of the University of Milan (Head of the Department, Prof. F. Santoro). Zirconium dioxide is a highly resistant ceramic material obtained by cleaning zirconium dioxide and zirconium silicate. The implant used in the clinical study featured a conical one piece implant with double cylindrical thread with a sandblasted rough surface. The prosthetic section was smooth.

Forty-six implants have been inserted in 18 patients from January 2007 to January 2009, the follow-up period was comprised between 6 and 24 months. The overall success rate was 89%; the success rate in native bone was 97% and 74% in augmented bone. It can be stated that the success rate is comparable to titanium fixtures.

It would be logical to use a ceramic material for the esthetic regions; zirconium dioxide is particularly suitable since it features tissue friendliness and resistance comparable to titanium. The good mechanical properties, possibility of easy fabrication of the prosthetic restoration and the good integration into the tissue and the esthetics provide perfect preconditions for yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide to become the most commonly used material in implant dentistry.