Ceramic Implant (Zirconia)

A ceramic implant is an artificial tooth root made of zirconium oxide (zirconia) that is placed in the jawbone instead of a titanium implant. It is completely metal-free, naturally white and exceptionally well tolerated by the surrounding tissue. Combined with a zirconia crown, the result is a tooth replacement that contains no metal at all – from root to chewing surface – with the same stability and longevity as titanium.

Material

Zirconia, metal-free

At our clinic since

2005

Warranty

10 years

Ceramic or titanium – what is the difference?

Titanium implants have been the standard in implantology for decades and have proven themselves millions of times over. Zirconia is a high-performance ceramic that has been used as an implant material since the 2000s and is fundamentally superior to titanium in one respect: it contains no metal. Ceramic implants release no metal ions, conduct no electricity and do not react with other metals in the mouth. The surface is smooth and attracts less plaque – an advantage for the gums around the implant.

At our clinic you can choose between the latest generation of titanium-zirconium implants from Straumann – the only ones worldwide made from both materials – and pure zirconia implants. Completed and ongoing studies confirm the ideal biocompatibility of titanium-zirconium and zirconia: no reaction of the surrounding structures, a firm bond with the bone and stable gums at the implant neck.

Who is a ceramic implant suitable for?

In certain situations, ceramic is the better choice. In the front of the mouth and with thin gums, because no grey metal edge can show through – not even if the gums recede slightly over the years. For patients who deliberately want only ceramic in their mouth, and for anyone with a sensitive metabolism or allergies. On request, we test your tolerance of individual materials in advance.

Being metal-free is a core principle of our interdisciplinary biological dentistry: fillings, crowns, bridges and implants made from ceramic, biocompatible materials. If you want the entire tooth restored without metal, we provide implant, abutment and crown in zirconia.

What does the treatment involve?

It starts with a free implant consultation; the X-rays required for it are charged separately. Using 3D X-ray imaging (CBCT), we plan the available bone and the implant position on the computer and decide whether titanium-zirconium or zirconia is the right choice. The procedure itself is no different from a titanium implantation: local anaesthesia, with nitrous oxide or under general anaesthesia if you wish, guided by a surgical template, around 30 to 40 minutes per implant.

Afterwards, our rule is: no swelling, no pain. The implant is stable enough to carry the crown immediately or after six weeks at the latest; after bone augmentation it takes longer. It is then scanned, and our partner laboratory makes the zirconia crown – monolithic for back teeth, individually layered in your tooth shade for the front.

How strong and durable is zirconia?

Zirconia is among the hardest ceramics used in dentistry – the same material from which all-ceramic crowns are milled. Earlier generations of ceramic implants were one-piece and allowed little flexibility; today’s systems are mature, industrially manufactured with high precision and achieve success rates in studies on a par with titanium.

What determines longevity is not the material alone, but planning, surgery and care. Your implantologist Boris Nikas has specialised in ceramic zirconia implants since 2005 – with over 20 years of experience and more than 4,000 implants placed. A ceramic implant should and can last a lifetime, like a healthy tooth. We give a 10-year warranty.

Aesthetics: why the colour of the root matters

An implant is invisible – in theory. In practice, the implant neck sits only a few millimetres below the gumline. Whether any of it becomes visible depends on whether it is a bone-level or a tissue-level implant: with a bone-level implant, the abutment could become visible if the gums are thin or recede over the years. With a zirconia implant, neither the implant nor the abutment is noticeable – both are white.

Combined with an all-ceramic zirconia crown, the result is a tooth that cannot be distinguished from its natural neighbours – in colour, translucency and at the transition to the gum.

How much does a ceramic implant cost?

A dental implant at our clinic costs from CHF 3,600 all-inclusive. Pure zirconia implants are somewhat more expensive to purchase than titanium-zirconium implants. Whether titanium-zirconium or pure zirconia is the right choice is something we clarify in the free consultation; we then quote the price for your situation, usually as a fixed package.

Basic health insurance in Switzerland covers implants only in rare exceptional cases. Some supplementary insurance plans contribute – we will provide the necessary documents on request.

Frequently asked questions about Ceramic Implant (Zirconia)

Is a ceramic implant as strong as titanium?

Yes. Zirconia is one of the hardest dental ceramics, and modern zirconia implants achieve success rates in studies on a par with titanium. Planning, surgery and care are what matter – not the material alone.

Does a ceramic implant take longer to heal?

It tends to have a slightly longer healing time. Zirconia bonds firmly with the bone just like titanium; the implant is stable enough immediately or after six weeks at the latest, and it takes longer after bone augmentation.

How long does a ceramic implant last?

It should and can last a lifetime, like a healthy tooth. At our clinic we give a 10-year warranty – on titanium and ceramic implants alike.

How much does a ceramic implant cost in Basel?

Dental implants at our clinic cost from CHF 3,600 all-inclusive. We quote the price for a zirconia implant with a zirconia crown after the free consultation, usually as a fixed package.

Are ceramic implants suitable for people with allergies?

Yes. Zirconia contains no metal, releases no ions and is considered one of the most biocompatible materials in dentistry. On request, we test your tolerance in advance.

Can I replace an existing titanium implant with ceramic?

A healthy, firmly integrated titanium implant is best left alone – replacing it would be an unnecessary procedure. It is different if there is inflammation or bone loss around the implant: then a ceramic implant can be the right solution for the replacement.

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