Bioceramic Coatings for dental implants

When it comes to dental implants, many are faced with the question of the material: ceramic or titanium?
Both have clear and overwhelming advantages, but also weak points. That is why a completely new, innovative generation of implants was created.

The advantages of both materials are combined: titanium implants with a coating of ceramic

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For more than 40 years, titanium implants have proven their worth in dental surgery. Ceramic implants have been added as a biocompatible alternative for about 20 years. Ceramic-sheathed titanium implants offer a considerable further development. These use the advantages of both materials in an innovative way.

We hear time and again from expert maxillofacial surgeons that the pure ceramic implants are subject to a risk of fracture in certain jaw situations. On the other hand, so-called "incompatibility reactions" are repeatedly observed with implants made of titanium. Therefore, pure titanium implants with a ceramic coating offer the chance to combine the respective advantages and eliminate the disadvantages.

A wafer-thin ceramic coating protects against corrosion.

To achieve this protection, the titanium implants are provided with a coating of niobium oxide and zirconium oxide. This coating is a high-vacuum coating (PVD) of extremely solid consistency. With this type of coating, ceramic ions bond directly with the titanium surface. The thickness of this layer is approx. 2-5 μm and offers the implants protection against corrosion. This provides great added value because there is no incompatibility reaction in the patient.

What can be taken from individual studies?

The assumption in individual studies is based on the fact that even in the presence of a physiological pH value, a low degree of corrosion occurs. This could cause titanium ions to enter the tissue. If, for example, peri-implantitis occurs in an acidic environment, there is a considerable increase in corrosion. Further investigations have shown that the titanium ions possibly lead to an increase in inflammatory processes.
For example, Prof. Nickenig was able to prove that titanium implants can be reliably protected not only from corrosion but also from mechanical abrasion by a ceramic coating (ceramic coating). For several years now, this procedure has also been used in endoprosthetics as well as in spinal implantology and vascular surgery.

What about the stability and biocompatibility?

In principle, all titanium implants can receive a bioceramic coating. This also applies without restriction to two-piece implants. The formation of a direct connection between the material of the ceramic coating and the gingival epithelial cells could be proven by recognised test procedures. This connection is comparable to cells attaching to a naturally grown tooth.

The indication areas are identical in principle to those for a normal titanium implant. The nanoscaled ceramic coating makes it possible to preserve the surface morphology of proven titanium surfaces. The coating is not only a wear-resistant but also a biocompatible titanium corrosion protection. Therefore, in the context of peri-implantitis prevention, its relevance is not only obvious but also sensible. Titanium and ceramics are joined without gaps and with high strength. That is why the use of alternative materials to pure titanium seems quite conceivable.