Zirconia versus titanium in dentistry: A review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Implantology
• Materials Engineering

Background:

• Zirconia and titanium are widely used in dental implantology.
• Understanding their comparative properties is crucial for material selection.
• Surface modifications significantly influence implant performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To scientifically compare the intrinsic properties of zirconia and titanium as potential dental implant materials.
• To highlight the impact of surface treatments on material evaluation.
• To assess suitability for dental implant applications, particularly abutments.

Main Methods:

• Comparative review of existing scientific literature.
• Analysis of mechanical properties, osseointegration, bacterial adhesion, and soft tissue adhesion.
• Focus on material properties independent of, and influenced by, surface treatments.

Main Results:

• Titanium exhibits superior mechanical properties compared to zirconia.
• Without surface treatment, titanium shows better osseointegration than zirconia.
• Zirconia demonstrates superior resistance to bacterial adhesion compared to titanium.

Conclusions:

• Surface morphology is more critical for osseointegration than surface composition.
• After surface treatments, both zirconia and titanium show comparable osseointegration.
• Zirconia's anti-bacterial properties make it a promising material for dental abutments.