The author of the article
Boris Lipovetskiy, DMD, 31 years experience
How can you replace missing teeth? Removable dentures can be uncomfortable and unreliable, while dental bridges may damage neighboring teeth. Dentists recommend dental implants as the best solution. But which type is better: titanium or ceramic? Will it hurt? Are there any risks during the procedure? Read further to see how experts from Advanced Dental Wellness Center answer these questions.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Dental implants allow you to chew comfortably and speak with confidence. Implants with crowns integrate securely and last for many years — something removable dentures simply can’t offer.
Despite their benefits, some patients still hesitate to get dental implants. If you’re unsure, book a consultation at ADW. We’ll explain the entire implantation process in detail, address your concerns, and show you why modern dental implants are safe, painless, and nothing to fear!
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial roots made of titanium or zirconia that are surgically placed into the jawbone. Once integrated, prosthetics such as crowns, bridges, or full-arch dentures are securely attached using connectors called abutments.
Implants act as replacements for natural tooth roots and function similarly. They transmit chewing pressure to the jawbone, ensuring even load distribution and stimulating the surrounding hard and soft tissues. This process also helps prevent bone loss (resorption) over time.
Types of Dental Implants
The dental market offers a wide variety of dental implants that differ by material, type, design, and other technical features understood mainly by implantologists.
Every clinical case is unique, so implants must be personalized for each patient. Factors such as overall health, oral condition, age, bone density, and the type of future prosthetic are carefully considered.
At ADW Clinic, we use the best implant systems from leading dental manufacturers in Switzerland and the USA. Following detailed diagnostics and a thorough analysis of your clinical situation, we recommend either ceramic or zirconia implants to ensure the best results for your dental health.
Zirconia implants are made from durable, highly aesthetic zirconium dioxide. They are ideal for patients with allergies to metal alloys and for those needing front tooth restoration. Unlike titanium, zirconia’s white color won’t show through the crown, ensuring a more natural look.
Zirconia implants are biocompatible, do not trigger allergic or inflammatory reactions, and promote faster healing. For these reasons, dentists are increasingly recommending zirconia implants.
At ADW Clinic, we use top-quality zirconia implant systems:
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SDS Implants – Featuring Dynamic Thread® technology, these implants are suitable for all bone types. They offer excellent primary stability, making them ideal for both two-stage protocols and immediate-load protocols for faster results.
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Z-System Implants – With a patented SLM surface, they provide a larger bone contact area, enhancing fixation strength and reducing the risk of implant loosening. The laser-treated surface accelerates healing, minimizes plaque buildup, and lowers the risk of tissue inflammation and implant rejection.
Why Choose Zirconia Implants?
- Metal-free, perfect for allergy-prone patients.
- Superior aesthetics, especially for visible teeth.
- Biocompatible and quick to integrate, ensuring long-term success.
Zirconia implants are suitable for restoring a single tooth or a full-mouth restoration. Unlike titanium All-on-4 implants with a full Hybrid Denture, zirconia implants use bridges that are just as aesthetic.
Titanium Dental Implants
Titanium implants are the gold standard in dental implantation, time-tested for reliability and versatility. With a vast range of models and placement protocols, they can be successfully used even in the most complex clinical cases.
Titanium implants are the only option currently suitable for full-arch restorations All-on-4 or All-on-6, making them ideal for patients with complete tooth loss.
At ADW Clinic, we use titanium implants from the renowned American manufacturer ACE Surgical Supply. These implants are crafted from pure Grade 4 titanium, known for its exceptional biocompatibility and rare risk of allergic reactions.
- Ideal for All-on-4 and All-on-6 full-arch restorations.
- Fast and efficient placement process.
- Reduced healing times thanks to excellent osteointegration properties.
- Reliable and long-lasting results, even in complex cases.
With titanium implants, you gain a stable, functional, and natural-looking smile, supported by cutting-edge technology and expert care at ADW Clinic.
Indications for Dental Implants
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Missing single teeth in the middle of the jaw Implants with crowns are placed to restore function and aesthetics.
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Missing molars at the end of the dental arch In this case, implants are the only solution to restore proper chewing function.
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Several missing teeth in a row A bridge prosthesis is fixed on 2-4 implants for stability and comfort.
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Complete tooth loss in the upper or lower jaw Full reconstruction is performed using the All-on-4 or All-on-6 protocols, restoring the entire arch with minimal implants.
I strongly recommend restoring missing teeth with implants rather than bridges supported by neighboring teeth. Why?
- With dental implants, adjacent teeth remain untouched, preserving their health and integrity.
- In traditional bridge prosthetics, healthy teeth must be filed down and depulped (nerve removed), leaving them “dead” and unable to handle heavy chewing loads.
- Over time, the roots of these teeth deteriorate, causing the bridge to fail. This often leads to larger dental defects that require more time, money, and effort to fix.
By choosing implants, you ensure a long-lasting, reliable restoration without compromising your healthy teeth.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
The average lifespan of titanium implants is 20 years, but it largely depends on the implant type, material, and class. Studies show that zirconia implants have a higher success rate compared to titanium implants. Within 3 years, the survival rate exceeds 98%, making them comparable to titanium implants in longevity.
Factors That Affect Implant Longevity
1. Clinical Situation – Implants tend to last longer and have better stability in the lower jaw due to the denser bone structure. In the upper jaw, the bone is softer and more porous, making it harder to achieve optimal stability.
2. General Health and Conditions
- Overall health status.
- Presence of chronic diseases or oral health conditions.
- Individual tissue regeneration speed.
- Levels of minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes in the body.
- How accurately the patient follows care, treatment, and hygiene recommendations.
Proper care and regular follow-up appointments are key to maximizing the lifespan of your dental implants.
Are Dental Implants Painful?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, which completely blocks the branch of the trigeminal nerve responsible for transmitting pain signals from the jaw. As a result, the placement of dental implants is painless.
During the procedure, patients may only feel pressure in the tissues or slight discomfort from the surgical manipulations.
After the anesthesia wears off, mild pain and other symptoms like swelling, inflammation, or a slight fever may occur. These are normal post-surgical reactions and can be managed with prescribed pain relievers and proper care.
Your dentist will provide recommendations to follow during the first 7-10 days, and some for up to a month. These may include:
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Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihistamines to reduce pain and tissue inflammation.
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Apply cold compresses to the cheek to relieve swelling.
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Take antibiotics and use antiseptic mouth rinses to prevent infection.
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Avoid physical exertion and overheating (e.g., sports, heavy household chores, lifting weights, or hot baths) to prevent bleeding.
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Eat only semi-liquid or puréed food at room temperature to avoid burning or injuring the gums.
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Brush your teeth gently and avoid vigorous rinsing to prevent damaging stitches or soft tissues.
Pros and Cons of Dental Implants
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Restore any dental defects: from single missing teeth to a fully edentulous jaw.
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Visually and functionally, they are indistinguishable from natural roots. This advantage of dental implants often becomes the main argument for patients.
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Prevent bone tissue loss (resorption) in the jaw.
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Do not require filing or damaging adjacent teeth during placement.
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Long-lasting: at least 15 years, and ideally, a lifetime.
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Implants cannot be placed without surgery, which involves cutting the gums and drilling into the bone.
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Full rehabilitation takes a long time. In traditional implantation with bone grafting, recovery can take up to 1 year. However, immediate load protocols can shorten this time to as little as 2 weeks from diagnosis to prosthesis placement.
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There are limitations or contraindications for certain medical conditions or states of health.
Real Cases of Dental Implants
- Restoration of Two Front Teeth
- The patient had severely damaged two upper incisors, affecting the appearance of their smile.
- Since the tooth roots were preserved, we performed immediate extraction with the placement of ACE titanium implants and a temporary prosthesis.
- Within 5 months, permanent crowns made of zirconia dioxide were installed.
- This fully restored the aesthetics of the dental arch and the patient’s smile, boosting their confidence when interacting with others.
- Replacement of a Molar
- The patient complained of severe pain in a molar, which had to be extracted due to an infection detected in the root canals.
- After 4 months, we began restoring the dental arch with a Z-System zirconia implant, which integrates faster than titanium. This was crucial since the missing tooth impaired chewing ability.
- The implant fully integrated within 3 months, and Dr. Boris Lipovetskiy placed a zirconia crown.
Contraindications for Dental Implants
Dental implant placement may not be recommended in the following cases:
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Oncology in the recurrence stage
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Malignant tumors
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Exacerbation of autoimmune or endocrine diseases
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Arthritis and osteoporosis
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Mental disorders
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Liver, kidney, or heart failure
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Alcohol, drug, or nicotine addiction
FAQ
During the rehabilitation and initial healing period, avoid aggressive brushing — stick to gentle rinses or mouth baths. After 14 days, you can begin cleaning your implants properly:
- Use a toothbrush labeled “soft” and a toothpaste with an RDA index below 80.
- Replace dental floss with an oral irrigator. The gums around implants do not fit as tightly as they do around natural roots, allowing food particles and plaque to accumulate. An irrigator effectively cleans these gaps while massaging the gums, improving blood circulation in the jaw tissues.
Sources of information
- A prospective clinical study to evaluate the performance of zirconium dioxide dental implants in single-tooth edentulous area: 3-year follow-up. Kai-Hendrik Bormann, Nils-Claudius Gellrich, Heinz Kniha, Sabine Schild, Dieter Weingart, Michael Gahlert.
- Advancements in Osseointegration and Biocompatibility of Zirconia Implants. Oreyemi As, Shukroh Abdurrasaq. 2024, Dec.
- Dental Implants: Modern Materials and Methods of Their Surface Modification. C. Sotova, O. Yanushevich, N. Kriheli, S. Grigoriev, V. Evdokimov, O. Kramar, M. Nozdrina, N. Peretyagin, N. Undritsova, E. Popelyshkin, P. Peretyagin. 2023, Nov.
- Factors Affecting the Survival Rate of Dental Implants: A Retrospective Study. Raikar, Sonal; Talukdar, Pratim; Kumari, Sarala; Panda, Sangram Kumar; Oommen, Vinni Mary; Prasad, Arvind. Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry. 7(6):p 351-355, Nov–Dec 2017.
- Implant success and survival rates in daily dental practice: 5-year results of a non-interventional study using CAMLOG SCREW-LINE implants with or without platform-switching abutments. S. M. Beschnidt, C. Cacaci, K. Dedeoglu, D. Hildebrand, H. Hulla, G. Iglhaut, G. Krennmair, M. Schlee, P. Sipos, A. Stricker, K.-L. Ackermann. International Journal of Implant Dentistry, vol 4, №33, 2018.
- Indications and contraindications of dental implants in medically compromised patients: update. Rafael Gómez-de Diego, María del Rocío Mang-de la Rosa, María-Jesús Romero-Pérez, Antonio Cutando-Soriano, Antonio López-Valverde-Centeno. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2014 Sep 1;19(5):e483-9.
- Titanium dioxide dental implants surfaces related oxidative stress in bone remodeling: a systematic review. Elaf Akram Abdulhameed, Natheer H Al-Rawi, Marzuki Omar, Nadia Khalifa, A B Rani Samsudin. 2022, Mar.