Zirconia Ceramic Coating On Titanium Dental Implants Reduces Bacterial Adhesion

Zirconia Ceramic Coating On Titanium Dental Implants

Dentists extensively use the ceramic zirconia material in implant dentistry. Along with the traditional metal-based titanium dental implants, dental practices also use ceramic zirconia implants to address missing or infected teeth.

However, the materials of both types of implants qualitatively differ in a vital surface property. A recent, comparative in vitro study showed that when zirconia is coated on a titanium implant, it enhances its bacterial adhesion quality.

According to an abstract published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the study used disc samples with the following different surface states:

• Polished titanium (PT) as a control
• Polished partially stabilized zirconia (PZ)
• Titanium blasted with zirconia then acid etched (TBZA)
• Titanium blasted with zirconia (TBZ)

Researchers examined surface topography by using scanning profilometry and electron microscopy. They also determined the surface free energy, contact angle, chemical composition, and surface microhardness.

The disc samples were independently incubated with Prevotella nigrescens and Streptococcus mitis—with or without pre-coating with human saliva, for 6 h. Fluorescence microscope images were used to calculate the surface area covered by bacteria.

Zirconia Ceramic’s Superior Ability in Reducing Bacterial Adhesion

When TBZ and PZ were examined, they showed lower surface free energy and lesser surface wettability compared to PT. Moreover, TBZ and PZ surfaces indicated a smaller percentage of bacterial adhesion than control PT surface.

It was concluded that zirconia material and titanium coated with zirconia showed significantly more effect in titanium material to reduce adhesion of the experimented bacteria—especially post coating with saliva pellicle.

Therefore, when we modify titanium with zirconia, it will have the same surface properties of pure zirconia material in lowering bacterial adhesion—with SFE being the most crucial factor in determining the initial bacterial adhesion to a smooth surface.

At Excellence Dental center in Rosarito, Mexico, Dr. Azadeh Khajavi provides zirconia ceramic implants that have a superior quality of reducing bacterial adhesion and increasing oral health protection.

To know more about replacing missing or infected teeth with zirconia dental implants, please call Excellence Dental at (858) 774-2010 . and schedule a personal consultation. Dr. Azadeh Khajavi is a specialist in  full mouth dental restoration using ceramic zirconia dental implants and has practiced dentistry for over two decades. A highly-trained, award-winning dentist, Dr. Khajavi uses the latest dental equipment incorporating biological dentistry including ozone therapy in her dental procedures.