Expert Holistic Dental Care
Transform your smile with metal-free zirconia implants today!
1971 Tower Dr Suite D12a, Glenview, IL 60026
WHY CERAMIC IMPLANTS?
About zirconia implants
Not so long ago, dental implants were a highly acclaimed new technique, and now they are commonly used as the first choice for tooth replacement. Now, a new material will once again revolutionizes dental implantology - zirconia.
Metal-free implants (also known as zirconium dental implants or all-ceramic implants) are made of zirconium oxide (zirconia), a naturally occurring, extremely hard ceramic substance. Zirconia is resistant against acids and corrosion, and is biocompatible, which means no allergic reactions should be expected. Until recently, all dental implants were made of titanium, but today's state-of-the-art dental care includes the metal-free option in zirconium .. 
WHY CHOOSE ZIRCONIA IMPLANTS?
Zirconia is resistant to corrosion and is lighter than steel. It was first discovered in the late 1700s in Germany, and then about 30 years later was first isolated. In the late 1960s, it was studied as a potential biomaterial called TZP, and it was found that its
properties were ideal for the construction of hip prostheses. Zirconium's shear strength prompted its nickname, 'ceramic steel', and over the past two decades it has debuted in the field of dentistry - first for the fabrication of strong crowns, and then more recently as a strong, tooth-colored and metal-free dental implant material. Zirconium is one of the best ceramics used today for dental reconstructions. Since it entered the field in the 1990s, it has been used increasingly, and today it is estimated that up to 20,000 zirconia crowns and bridges are made across the world each day. Long term testing have shown that a zirconia bridge can retain its strength for decades. What's better, studies have also shown that zirconium is extremely biocompatible, and does not cause allergies in humans. Instead, it is readily accepted by the body. Therefore, it comes natural that we should be using this material for more biocompatible dental implants
Our Technology
We use the latest technologies and techniques to ensure that our patients receive the best and safest holistic dental care. From digital x-rays to digital impressions, holistic dental materials (implants, crowns, fillings and cements made of non-toxic ingredients), platelet-rich fibrin and stem cells for optimizing natural bone regeneration, we have invested in the tools and equipment necessary to provide biocompatible and effective treatment without causing harm.
Advantages of zirconia implants
The biggest advantages of Zirconium metal-free implants are that they are:
- NATURAL: Zirconium Implants make it unnecessary to implant titanium or any other metal into the jawbone in order to create fixed teeth replacements. Zirconia implants are a holistic, natural choice of dental implant.
- HYGIENIC: Zirconium dental implants are shown to retain less plaque than their titanium counterparts, which will promote healthier gums around the implant.
- COSMETICALLY APPEALING: Zirconium has the advantage of its bright white tooth-like color which, as a base for a tooth replacement, appears more natural than crowns with metal implants underneath. The white color of zirconium implants also eliminates the possibility of a darkened gum line that sometimes occurs with metal implants.
- STRONG: Zirconium is the second in hardness material found in nature (next to the diamond), and the strength of zirconium implants is equal to that of titanium implants.
- OSSEOINTEGRATIVE: Zirconia dental implants have a high rate of osseointegration, confirmed by numerous studies in Germany and the United States.
- INDIFFERENT towards electricity and magnetism: As a ceramic material, zirconia does not have electromagnetic properties, therefore it will not affect the organ bio-vibrations and energy meridians.
- NON-CORROSIVE: A few studies had confirmed the possibility for Titanium to corrode in the human body. The ceramic implant does not corrode.
- BIOCOMPATIBLE and NON-ALLERGIC: A substance is biocompatible if it does not produce a toxic, allergic or immunological response in living tissue. Zirconium is readily accepted and integrated by the body, absolutely inert and therefore does not cause allergic reactions. It has been used for artificial hip and knee joints for over 25 years. With their recent FDA approval, it is time for zirconia implants to find their role in providing better, healthier dentistry. - TECHNIQUE-SENSITIVE: Work with the right dentist. Metal-free implants have specific single body design, which does not allow for mistakes in angulation and requires higher precision in placement. We can only recommend a handful of dentists that are qualified in placing ceramic implants with predictable results.
Removal of metal implants
When and why to remove titanium implant?
Titanium implant removal service is offered in those unfortunate situations that no longer justify saving a dental implant. Usually the patient complains either of aesthetic issue, of a health issue that overrides the benefits of having an implant, or a combination of both.
Dentistry was revolutionized by the application of implanted fixtures as a root replacement anchorage for stable dental prostheses. However, the implant may require removal if one of the following presents:
1)Advanced periimplantitis with poor prognosis. When the soft tissue is severely inflamed or the bone loss around the implant is significant, it is better to take it out rather than trying to save it. The reason to do that is the poor risks vs benefits ratio. Complete decontamination of the implant surface is not possible, even with chemicals, ozone and laser. Therefore, bone regeneration using graft will be hard to achieve and it will be partial regeneration at the most. Sometimes, the graft looks good on xray but it is not actually attached to the bone. Soft tissue (gum) graft works better, especially after removing the titanium implant threads in the exposed area and polishing the surface, because new soft tissue attachment to the implant surface is easier to form than new bone attachment. However, knowing that we offer superior products, such as zirconia implants, the patients often choose to replace the implant rather than trying to save it.
2) Adverse reaction, including allergy, to impurities in the titanium alloy. Reaction to the titanium itself is possible, although more rare. A simple test that we use is to ask the patient if he or she reacts to metal jewelry. If the patient has skin reaction to metal necklaces, earrings and rings, then we can expect a reaction to grade 5 titanium implants. The most common reactions are of neurological character (chronic fatigue syndrome, fuzzy brain) or skin allergy. When required or requested, we would refer the patient for specific skin test and/or immunology test from a blood sample.
3) implant fracture – it occurs due to one or a combination of the following:
– material fatigue
– pure titanium implants which are more fragile than alloys
– single tooth mini implants (too narrow to carry full load individually, with some exceptions)
– poor implant design with walls at the implant-abutment interface that are too narrow
– zirconium implants placed under unfavorable angulation, over-drilled or too narrow to use in the specific tooth location
4) abutment fracture or abutment screw damage – when removal of the abutment or the abutment screw is impossible, removal and replacement of the whole implant is indicated
5) otherwise healthy implant, placed in less than optimal position AND creating an aesthetic or functional issue. Not every implant placed in a wrong position, requires removal.
About Our Practice
Our Philosophy
At ZIRCONIA IMPLANTS CHICAGO we believe in a holistic approach to dental care. Our focus is on providing metal-free zirconia ceramic implants that ensure both safety and aesthetics for our patients.