A short-term prospective study to evaluate the clinical performance of endosseous zirconia implants

Background: Endosseous zirconia implants have been established as an alternative to conventional titanium implants, especially in the aesthetic zone. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the outcome of rehabilitation with zirconia implants, in a subset of the Indian population, involving varying clinical scenarios. Methods: A total of 10 one-piece zirconia implants were placed in seven patients requiring rehabilitation of missing teeth. The survival rate and marginal bone levels were evaluated at six months and 12 months following implant placement. Results: Five implants were placed in the maxilla and five in the mandible, including well-healed sites, extraction sockets, a single cantilever in the lower anterior region, and a full-arch rehabilitation. During the observation period, two early implant failures were noted resulting in a survival rate of 80%. Mean marginal bone loss of 0.73mm was seen one year following implant placement, with maximum bone loss occurring in the first six months. Conclusion: The results of this study encourage the use of endosseous zirconia implants in diverse clinical scenarios with careful case selection. However, long-term studies are needed to further validate these findings.