Pilot Clinical and Histologic Evaluations of a Two-Piece Zirconia Implant

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the clinical and histologic results of bone and soft tissue healing around a two-piece zirconia dental implant in a human model. A healthy female patient requiring tooth replacement with dental implants received a two-piece zirconia implant together with conventional titanium implants to be implemented in a prosthesis. Clinical and radiographic evaluations at 6 months revealed stable osseointegrated zirconia and titanium dental implants. Light microscopy and backscatter scanning electron microscopic analyses confirmed the biocompatibility and achievement of osseointegration, in addition to maintenance of the crestal bone level. The findings suggest that the bone-to-implant contact with a zirconia implant surface is sufficient to provide clinical and histologic evidence of osseointegration. The biopsied two-piece zirconia dental implant with platform switching demonstrated osseointegration occlusal to the implant-abutment junction, eliminating the significance of the microgap.