Zirconia dental implants · Oakville

Metal-free zirconia implants, placed by oral surgeons

Zirconia (ceramic) implants replace missing teeth without metal. They’re white, strong and fuse with the jawbone. We place CeraRoot zirconia implants for single teeth, bridges and full arches, often on the same day a tooth is removed.

Book a consultation Call (905) 582-2188

Metal-free
One-piece CeraRoot implants
Single teeth to full arches
No referral needed

Dr. Martin Cloutier treating a patient at Aspen Oral Surgery

Your consultationWe’ll tell you whether zirconia or titanium suits your bone, gums and goals.

In this guide

Zirconia implants, explained

Nine short articles. Read them in order or jump to the question you have.

What is a zirconia implant?
Zirconia or titanium?
Is zirconia right for you?
CeraRoot, the system we use
Placing an implant the day a tooth is removed
Bridges and full arches
What the research shows
Your treatment, step by step
Living with zirconia implants

A two-piece titanium implant (left) and a one-piece zirconia implant (right), simplified. The numbers match the list.

Article 1

What is a zirconia implant?

A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. Most implants are titanium. A zirconia implant does the same job but is made of zirconium dioxide, a white, high-strength ceramic also used for crowns and bridges.

The CeraRoot implants we use are one-piece: the root and the post that holds the crown are made as a single piece. Titanium implants are usually two-piece, with a separate connector (abutment) screwed on.

The crown
The visible tooth, made by your dentist and cemented onto the implant.
The built-in post
The part that comes through the gum. On a one-piece implant it’s part of the implant, so there’s no joint or screw.
The implant body
Sits in the jawbone where the root used to be. Its roughened surface lets bone grow onto it.

Article 2

Zirconia or titanium: how they compare

Both are proven ways to replace a tooth. The right choice depends on your bone, your gums, where the tooth is, and what matters to you.

	Titanium implant	Zirconia implant
Colour	Grey metal, hidden under the gum and crown	White, tooth-coloured
Material	Titanium alloy	Metal-free ceramic (zirconium dioxide)
Design	Usually two-piece, with a screwed-on abutment	One-piece (CeraRoot), with no internal screw
Research	Decades of studies and long-term data	Fewer long-term studies; encouraging results up to 10 years
Teeth on surgery day	Possible in selected cases, including Teeth in a Day	No. The implant heals before it’s used for chewing
Thin gums in the smile zone	A grey shadow can sometimes show through	No grey shadow
Adjusting the angle	Abutments come in many angles	More limited, because the post is part of the implant
Often chosen for	Most single teeth, bridges and full arches	Patients who want metal-free, and front teeth with thin gums

Neither material is right for everyone. At your consultation we explain which one we’d recommend for you, and why.

Article 3

Is a zirconia implant right for you?

Zirconia is a good option for many patients, and titanium is the better fit for some. Here’s how we think about it.

Zirconia may suit you if

You prefer a metal-free option.
You’ve had a confirmed reaction to metals. True titanium allergy is rare, but it happens.
The tooth is in your smile and your gums are thin.
The tooth is being removed and the surrounding bone is healthy.
You want an implant that stays white if your gums recede over the years.

Titanium may be better if

You want fixed teeth on the day of surgery, as with Teeth in a Day.
The implant has to be placed at a strong angle, as is common at the back of the upper jaw.
You clench or grind heavily, which puts extra stress on any implant.
A large bone graft is needed first and the plan calls for a two-piece implant.

With any implant, smoking and uncontrolled diabetes slow healing and raise the risk of problems. We’ll talk about anything that affects your case.

Article 4

CeraRoot: the zirconia system we use

CeraRoot implants are made in Spain from high-strength zirconia. They are one-piece implants with an acid-etched surface that bone can attach to.

Shaped by tooth: different shapes for front teeth, premolars and molars, so the implant follows the root it replaces.
One piece: no screw or joint between the implant and the post that holds your crown.
Widely studied: in a 2023 review of zirconia implant research, more than half of the implants studied were CeraRoot.

Good to know

Protecting it while it heals

Because the post is part of the implant, it comes through the gum right after surgery. It needs to heal without chewing pressure for a few months. We’ll show you how to protect it, and your temporary tooth is made so it doesn’t press on the implant.

Article 5

Placing an implant the day a tooth is removed

When the bone around a tooth is healthy, a zirconia implant can often go in at the same appointment the tooth comes out. Because CeraRoot implants come in shapes that follow natural roots, they can often fit the socket closely.

Placed the same day isn’t the same as loaded the same day. A zirconia implant isn’t used for chewing until it has fused with the bone. Until then you’ll have a temporary tooth that doesn’t press on it, such as one bonded to the neighbouring teeth or a small removable tooth.

When we wait instead

There’s an active infection around the tooth.
Too much bone has been lost to hold the implant firmly.
The socket needs a bone graft first.

In those cases we remove the tooth, let the area heal or graft it, and place the implant a few months later.

About bone grafting

Article 6

Bridges and full arches on zirconia implants

Zirconia isn’t only for single teeth. It can support several teeth, up to a full arch.

Several teeth

Short bridges

Two or three zirconia implants can support a bridge that replaces several missing teeth in a row.

All teeth in a jaw

Full arch

Several zirconia implants can support a full set of fixed teeth. The implants heal first, and the fixed bridge is attached afterwards.

Want teeth on surgery day?

Choose titanium

Fixed teeth on the day of surgery need titanium implants. See Teeth in a Day and full-arch implants.

Article 7

What the research shows

Zirconia implants have less research behind them than titanium, but the results so far are encouraging.

2023 review, 25 studies

95.1% survival at 10 years

A systematic review of 4,017 zirconia implants found a 10-year survival rate of 95.1%. Fractures were rare (0.65%), and almost all were in models that are no longer made.

Mohseni P, Soufi A, Chrcanovic BR. Clinical Oral Investigations, 2023. Read the study

2024 review, implant design

95–98.4% at 5 years for one-piece

A review of how design affects results found five-year success and survival of 95% to 98.4% for one-piece zirconia implants, with better results for acid-etched surfaces.

Journal of Dentistry, 2024;143:104903. Read the abstract

Most studies followed patients for five years or less, and long-term data are still more limited than for titanium. These figures are averages from research, not a promise for any one patient.

Article 8

Your treatment, step by step

Most patients go from implant placement to their final crown in about three to six months.

1
Visit 1
Consultation & 3D scan
An exam and CBCT scan of your bone, gums, nerves and sinuses, and whether zirconia suits you.
2
Planning
A plan with your dentist
We plan the implant around the crown or bridge your dentist will make.
3
Surgery day
Implant placement
With local anesthesia, IV sedation or general anesthesia. Often placed the day the tooth is removed.
4
About 3 to 6 months
Healing
The implant fuses with the bone. You protect it from chewing, and we check it at follow-ups.
5
After healing
Your new tooth
Your dentist takes impressions and cements the final crown or bridge.

Article 9

Living with zirconia implants

An implant can’t get cavities, but the gum and bone around it need the same care as natural teeth.

Clean twice a day

Brush and clean between teeth around the implant. Floss, small brushes or a water flosser all work.

Keep your checkups

See your dentist and hygienist regularly. The gum around an implant can become inflamed too (peri-implantitis).

Guard against grinding

If you clench or grind, a night guard protects the crown and the implant.

Avoid smoking

Smoking slows healing and raises the risk of problems around any implant.

Your surgical team

Placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons

DMD, MSc, FRCD(C), Dipl. ABOMS

Dr. Martin Cloutier

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Trained in oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesia at the University of Toronto.

Read profile

DDS, MSc

Dr. Justin MacRae

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon with focused training in implant and full-arch reconstruction.

Read profile

Fees depend on the number of implants, any grafting and your crown or bridge. You’ll get a written estimate at your consultation, and we can send a pre-determination to your insurer.

Fees & insurance

Questions

Zirconia implant FAQ

Don’t see your question? Call us at (905) 582-2188.

Are zirconia implants as strong as titanium?

Modern zirconia is very strong, and fractures in current designs are rare. Titanium is more flexible and has a longer research record, so we recommend each where it fits best.

Can I be allergic to titanium?

True titanium allergy is rare. If you’ve had reactions to metals, tell us at your consultation. Zirconia is a metal-free alternative.

Can the implant go in the day my tooth is removed?

Often, yes, if the bone around the tooth is healthy. The implant then heals for a few months before it’s used for chewing.

Can I have teeth on the day of surgery with zirconia?

No. Zirconia implants heal before they carry a tooth. If you want fixed teeth on surgery day, ask about Teeth in a Day with titanium implants.

Can zirconia implants replace a full arch?

Yes. Several zirconia implants can support a full set of fixed teeth, attached once the implants have healed.

How long do zirconia implants last?

Research shows high survival at 10 years. With good home care and regular checkups, implants can last many years, though no implant can be guaranteed.

Will the implant show through my gums?

No. Zirconia is white, so there’s no grey shadow if your gums are thin or recede.

Is it covered by insurance?

Coverage varies by plan. You’ll get a written estimate, and we can send a pre-determination to your insurer.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can book a consultation directly.

Next step

Ask whether zirconia is right for you

Your consultation includes an exam, a 3D scan if needed, and a clear plan with a written estimate. No referral needed.

Book a consultation Call (905) 582-2188

Metal-free zirconia implants, placed by oral surgeons

Zirconia implants, explained

What is a zirconia implant?

The crown

The built-in post

The implant body

Zirconia or titanium: how they compare

Is a zirconia implant right for you?

CeraRoot: the zirconia system we use

Protecting it while it heals

Placing an implant the day a tooth is removed

Bridges and full arches on zirconia implants

Short bridges

Full arch

Choose titanium

What the research shows

95.1% survival at 10 years

95–98.4% at 5 years for one-piece

Your treatment, step by step

Consultation & 3D scan

A plan with your dentist

Implant placement

Healing

Your new tooth

Living with zirconia implants

Clean twice a day

Keep your checkups

Guard against grinding

Avoid smoking

Placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons

Dr. Martin Cloutier

Dr. Justin MacRae

Zirconia implant FAQ

Ask whether zirconia is right for you

Explore More of Our Solutions

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Exposure of Teeth

Dental Implants

Bone Grafting

Pathology & Infection

CBCT Imaging

Gum Grafting

Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)

Zirconia Implants

Teeth in a Day

Contact Us

Forms

Navigation