Zirconia Dental Implants in Valencia, CA

Zirconia implants are dental implants made of zirconium oxide, a metal-free material, used in place of the more common titanium. The FDA lists titanium and zirconium oxide as the materials most dental implant systems are made of.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a prosthetic tooth or bridge. The implant body sits in the jawbone where the tooth's root was, and an abutment extends through the gums to support the artificial teeth on top. For an overview of every implant option we offer, see dental implants in Valencia.

Zirconia implants are considered safe: Cleveland Clinic notes that most implants are titanium, some are ceramic, and both materials are safe and biocompatible, meaning friendly to the tissues inside your mouth.

Before an implant system can be sold in the United States, the manufacturer must show it is as safe and as effective as systems already on the market, and that evaluation includes biocompatibility testing to show that contact with the device does not cause complications like irritation or allergic reaction. Implants can still fail, for example from infection in the bone and gums around them or from delayed healing, so ask your dentist which brand and model of implant system is being used and keep that information for your records.

Whether zirconia or titanium implants are better depends on the patient. At Smile Care Valencia both are offered, and Dr. Robert explains the advantages and limitations of each so the material is selected to your health, anatomy and preference.

Titanium is the more common of the two. To plan treatment, our in-office 3D cone-beam CT scanner gives a detailed view of the teeth, jawbone, sinuses and nearby nerves, which helps plan implant treatment with greater precision. Your overall health matters too: the FDA notes that it affects whether you are a good candidate, how long healing takes and how long the implant may stay in place, and that smoking may affect healing and decrease the long-term success of the implant.

A good candidate for zirconia implants, as for any dental implant, is someone in good general and oral health with enough jawbone and healthy gums. The American Academy of Periodontology lists three signs of an ideal implant candidate:

Our team evaluates your oral health, bone structure and smile goals to determine if zirconia implants are right for you, whether you need a single tooth or multiple teeth replaced. Dr. Hedvat also does bone grafting at the practice.

How long a zirconia implant takes to heal depends on how quickly your body heals. For dental implants in general, Cleveland Clinic gives about one week for the first round of healing and three to nine months for the jawbone to fuse around the implant.

While the implant body heals, which may take several months or longer, you typically have a temporary abutment in place of the tooth. The fusing of bone around the implant is what stabilizes it so you can use it like a natural tooth.

Caring for a zirconia implant means brushing, flossing and regular dental visits, just as with natural teeth. The American Academy of Periodontology says this home care and those visits preserve the implant's function and help prevent peri-implant disease.

Follow the oral hygiene instructions your dentist gives you, since regularly cleaning the implant and the teeth around it is very important for its long-term success. If your implant ever feels loose or painful, tell your dentist right away.

At Smile Care Valencia, Dr. Robert P. Hedvat places both titanium and metal-free zirconia implants, and we take the time to explain every step of the process. For patients who want help relaxing, the office offers nitrous oxide, twilight sedation where appropriate, and IV sedation under the care of a Dental Anesthesiologist; see sedation dentistry.

We accept most PPO dental plans. Benefits and network participation vary by plan, so our team will gladly verify your coverage before treatment. We also accept CareCredit and offer financial arrangements.