title: Zirconia dental implants: a clinical, radiographic, and microbiologic evaluation up to 3 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively evaluate the clinical performance of zirconia endosseous implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Partially edentulous patients with adequate bone volume to fit yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) implants at least 3.5 mm wide and 8.0 mm long were included. Full-mouth probing pocket depth (PPDs) and percentage bleeding on probing (BOP) scores around teeth and implant(s) were assessed and compared. Marginal bone loss/gain relative to baseline was measured on intraoral radiographs, and the prevalence and quantities of seven periodontal bacteria were assessed around implants and teeth in the same patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four consecutively treated patients with 121 zirconia implants (66 two-piece implants and 55 one-piece implants) were clinically evaluated after a mean observation period of 18 months. Three implants had failed and had been removed, for a cumulative implant survival rate of 96.5% (± 2.0%) after 3 years. The 118 surviving implants demonstrated healthy mucosal conditions, with low mean PPDs (1.8 ± 0.4 mm) and mean BOP scores (4.1% ± 4.2%). PPD and BOP were statistically significantly lower around implants than around teeth. BOP and PPD around implants and teeth were significantly correlated. Stable marginal bone levels were observed (mean bone loss of 0.1 ± 0.6 mm after 3 years). The frequency of isolation of all marker bacteria was similar at tooth and implant sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zirconia endosseous implants can achieve a 3-year implant survival rate in partially edentulous patients, similar to that of titanium implants, with healthy and stable soft and hard tissues.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brüll
authors.forename: Arie Jan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Winkelhoff
authors.forename: Marco S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cune
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000382:microbiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D015019:Yttrium; D014025:Titanium; C091417:yttria