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Published on: June 24, 2018
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Zirconia vs. Titanium Dental Implants: Primary Stability In-Vitro Analysis.
Nerea Arlucea1, Aritza Brizuela-Velasco1, Markel Dieguez-Pereira1
1Department of Prosthodontics and Occlusion, School of Dentistry, University of Oviedo, c/Catedrático Serrano s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 24, 2021
Summary
Zirconia dental implants show higher stability than titanium implants, indicated by insertion torque and resonance frequency analysis. However, both implant types exhibit similar micromovement under load, suggesting caution with current clinical protocols for zirconia.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Dental Implantology
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Dental implant stability is crucial for successful osseointegration and long-term function.
- Titanium (Ti6Al4V) implants are widely used, but zirconia (ZrO2) implants offer aesthetic advantages.
- Comparative data on the mechanical stability and in-situ performance of these materials under load is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the primary stability and micromovement of titanium and zirconia dental implants under static load.
- To evaluate insertion torque (IT) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) as indicators of implant stability for both materials.
Main Methods:
- Experimental trial using identical design titanium and zirconia implants (n=42) placed in bovine ribs.
- Measurement of insertion torque and resonance frequency (RFA) upon implant placement.
- Application of static compression load to prosthetic crowns and measurement of resulting micromovements.
Main Results:
- Zirconia implants demonstrated significantly higher mean insertion torque (IT) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) values compared to titanium implants (p=0.0483 and p=0.0296, respectively).
- Micromovement values under static load were statistically similar between zirconia and titanium implants (p=0.3867).
Conclusions:
- Zirconia implants exhibit superior primary stability compared to titanium implants based on IT and RFA.
- The similar micromobility under load suggests that current clinical protocols for zirconia implants, particularly those relying on RFA, require careful consideration due to limited evidence for this material.
