Contaminants on Titanium and Ceramic

Dental implants are designed to replace the root of the missing tooth and serve as the foundation for the desired restoration. Whether implants are titanium or ceramic (ie, zirconia), they “bond” to the bone through a process called osseointegration in which the bone attaches to the implant surface. Although dental implants have become a mainstream treatment option, the profession is witnessing an increase in the reported incidence of peri-implantitis and accompanying peri-implant bone loss. These reports relate to bone loss at the interface of the implant surface, which is calibrated as bone-to-implant contact. Fortunately, it is commonly accepted that the incidence of peri-implantitis is not actually increasing; the identification of it is.