Zirconia Implants for Replacement of a Single Tooth

Observational Study Evaluating Zirconia Dental Implants and Screw Retained Implant Crowns for Metal-free Single Tooth Replacement

First, the surgical insertion of a ceramic (zirconia) dental implant will be performed in a single-tooth gap according to current state-of-the-art protocols. After a 3-months healing phase, a ceramic tooth replacement (a.k.a. implant crown) will be screw-retained on the implant and will be ready for full chewing, aesthetic and speech function.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Partial-edentulism
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Dental Implant

Detailed Description

Surgery Implant placement will be performed according to a standardized, well-documented surgical protocol considered internationally as state-of-the art therapy for titanium implants since decades (Buser & von Arx 2000, Buser et al. 2004). In summary, an osteotomy will be performed in the edentulous bone under local anaesthesia and after the elevation of a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap. The screw-shaped implant will then be inserted into the osteotomy. Particular emphasis will be set on risk minimization for adjacent anatomical structures (e.g. nerves, adjacent teeth), on sufficient primary implant stability, on circular embedding in > 1 mm thick bone walls and on correct three-dimensional implant positioning. In cases with insufficient bone volume, guided bone regeneration (GBR) will be performed using autogenous bone chips from the adjacent area, well-documented bovine bone mineral and resorbable porcine collagen membranes. The flaps will then be sutured around the implant healing cap (non-submerged healing). Primary flap closure will be preferred in cases with GBR (submerged healing). 12 ± 2 weeks after placement, submerged implants will be uncovered under local anaesthesia, then the osseointegration of the implants will be verified clinically and radiographically, and impressions will be taken.

Restoration Restoration in group A (tooth replacement in FDI positions 14 - 24): fixed implant-supported provisional for 3 months, then final restoration with all-ceramic screw-retained single implant-supported crown (abutment made of zirconium dioxide and crown finalized with hand-build up ceramic veneering material) Restoration in group B (tooth replacement in all other positions): all-ceramic screw-retained single implant-supported crown (abutment made of zirconium dioxide and monolithic lithium disilicate ceramic crown.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 14

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Bern, Switzerland, 3010
    • University of Bern - Klinik für rekonstruktive Zahnmedizin und Gerodontologie

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

General population.

Description

Inclusion criteria (site level):

• partial edentulism (any FDI position between 17 and 47)
• healed extraction site (type 2, 3 or 4 implant placement) or native bone
• opposing dentition: natural teeth, fixed or removable restoration

Exclusion criteria (site level):

• inadequate ridge or gap dimensions for the test device (simultaneous bone augmentation allowed)
• lack of primary stability of the implant

Inclusion criteria (patient level):

• self-referred or on purpose referred patient requiring a metal-free, all-ceramic implant therapy
• age ≥18 years and ≤ 80
• capable of providing written informed consent and compliance to the protocol
• physical status PS1 and PS2 (American Society of Anesthesiologists).

Exclusion criteria (patient level):

• pregnancy or lactation
• inadequate oral hygiene
• untreated periodontitis or gingivitis
• mucosal diseases such as erosive lichen planus
• smoking habit with >5 cig/d
• severe bruxism or clenching habits
• uncontrolled diabetes or conditions resulting in or requiring immunosuppression, radiation, chemotherapy, frequent use of antibiotics or antiresorptive medication such as bisphosphonates

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Survival Rate	How many implants are still in function	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Success Rate	How many implants satisfy current biological and technical success criteria	10 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Bern
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: SImone FM Janner, PD Dr., University of Bern

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 28, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 4, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 5, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 14, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Equipment and Supplies; Biomedical and Dental Materials; Manufactured Materials; Technology, Industry, and Agriculture; Prostheses and Implants; Dentistry; Dental Materials; Dental Prosthesis; Prosthodontics; Dental Implants
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2016-01434

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No