Oral health conditions, including dental caries, periodontal diseases, tooth loss, oral cancers, orofacial clefts, noma, and oro-dental trauma, are largely preventable and treatable when diagnosed early. As indicated by the report from 2022 WHO Global Oral Health Status[1], approximately 3.5 billion individuals globally are affected by oral diseases, with most living in middle-income countries. The report identified caries in permanent and primary teeth as noteworthy issues, affecting 2 billion people and 514 million children.
The prevalence of these diseases is rising due to increased urbanization, changes in living standards, insufficient fluoride exposure, high-sugar diets, and limited access to oral health care services such as those including dental zirconia material. The situation is further exacerbated by the aggressive marketing of sugar-laden food, beverages, tobacco and alcohol, which all contributes to oral health issues and other non-communicable diseases.
Solving These Issues with Advanced Dental Materials
Orthodontic professionals worldwide are pioneering innovative approaches to contemporary dental problems while emphasizing the strategic deployment of advanced dental materials, precisely the zirconia material. At the same time, conferences such as the AEEDC Dubai Orthodontic Conference 2023 have become an essential platform for these discussions, which attract leading dental practitioners and researchers eager to explore these emerging developments.
Within this forum, experts explore the potential solutions offered by materials like zirconia. They analyze their utility in various clinical scenarios and brainstorm ways to overcome existing challenges. Through such collaborative efforts, the orthodontic community aims to drive progress and set new standards of excellence, reinforcing their commitment to enhancing patient care.
Introducing the Conference and the Zirconia Material Attention
Now in its 27th year, AEEDC Dubai is the world’s premier yearly scientific conference and exhibition dedicated to dentistry. AEEDC Dubai 2023[2] offers a vibrant global juncture where many international and regional experts, established professionals, rising stars, specialists, and academics converge. They come together to provide their unique perspectives and professional knowledge on the most current and critical dental and oral health issues.
Along similar lines, here we are pleased to inform you that renowned Orthodontics expert, Dr. Ravindra Nanda, delivered an insightful lecture on “Biomechanics, Materials, and Surgery” at the AEEDC International Orthodontic Conference 2023. With his extensive experience and deep knowledge in the field, Dr Nanda elucidated the complex interactions between biomechanics and material science in orthodontic treatment planning and how it influences surgical decisions.
Dental zirconia material has earned great interest in the global dental community, taking centre stage at the AEEDC Dubai 2023 conference. It stood out as a topic of extensive discussion and study among practitioners, educators, and researchers attending the event. The widespread application of zirconia in various dental procedures, including Immediate Implants with A Zirconia Neck Simultaneous with Tissue Augmentation with L-PRF in the Esthetic Area[3], and its emerging relevance in cutting-edge dental technology underscored its significance at the conference.
Why Dental Zirconia Material Has a Promising Future
In this part, let’s answer why dental zirconia material has a promising future by giving an overview of zirconia’s features and advantages in the orthodontic field.
-
Superior Mechanical Properties:
Dental zirconia (ZrO2) showcases exceptional strength, hardness, and fracture toughness, ideal for durable dental prostheses. The material can withstand intense masticatory forces while reducing the risk of fracture or failure commonly associated with other dental materials like porcelain or resin.
-
Biocompatibility:
The zirconia material interacts favourably with biological tissues and exhibits no adverse effects, a key factor for implant success. It has a low bacterial adhesion rate to reduce the risk of peri-implant diseases. Also, it causes a minimal inflammatory response, which prompts the longevity of zirconia-based restorations and implants.
-
Aesthetic Appeal:
Zirconia’s optical properties closely mimic those of natural teeth while contributing to superior aesthetics. Its high clarity and customizable colour provide a natural-looking replacement for tooth structures, which is particularly beneficial for anterior tooth restorations where appearance is critical.
-
Versatility in Applications:
Zirconia can be used in many dental applications, like crowns, bridges, implants, and implant abutments, thanks to its superior physical and aesthetic properties. In addition, advancements in computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology have streamlined the production of zirconia prostheses, which helps enable precise, patient-specific restorations.
-
Thermal Conductivity:
Zirconia’s low thermal conductivity reduces thermal shock for patient comfort. It is important in protecting the pulp, especially in cases where restorations or implants are close to the pulp chamber. So, dental zirconia materials can provide a more comfortable experience for patients than other materials with higher thermal conductivity.
Concluding the Trends of Zirconia Applications
According to a report[4], it’s evident that the use of zirconia material in dental implant rehabilitation is a growing area of clinical research, with the number of published studies having increased by approximately 180% over the last five years. Despite variations in methodology and technical approaches across these studies, zirconia implants demonstrated promising survival rates ranging from 87% to 100% over one and 7.8 years. Specifically, one-piece zirconia implants showed lower marginal bone loss and higher survival rates than their two-piece counterparts.
The most common complication was the failure of implant osseointegration, primarily within the first six months. Interestingly, the micro-geometry of the implant threads, mainly more retentive surfaces, appears to considerably improve the survival rate, which indicates a potential direction for future technical improvements. Generally, the trends suggest an optimistic trajectory for zirconia implants, hinting at its essential role in the future of dental rehabilitation practices.
De Corematrix’s HT Series Zirconia Block
We highly recommend De Corematrix‘s HT series zirconia blocks. They feature an impressive bending strength of at least 1300MPa and a light transmittance of about 41%, ensuring high strength and exceptional transparency. Plus, they offer customizable thicknesses ranging from 10mm to 25mm and come in a VITA 16 colour palette for external and internal shades. Their compatibility with numerous systems like Wieland, Amann, Zirkon, and Sirona and the ability to create custom systems add to their versatility. Beyond the high-performance specifications, they also provide an excellent cost-performance ratio compared to competitors, rendering them a value-for-money choice for anyone seeking high-quality, durable zirconia blocks.
Reference：
[1] Global oral health status report: towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030. Available at:
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240061484 (Accessed 26 July)
[2]AEEDC Dubai, a Global Platform for the Dental World. Available at:
https://aeedc.com/about-aeedc/ (Accessed 26 July）
[3] Oral Implantology – Immediate Implants with A Zirconia Neck Simultaneous with Tissue Augmentation With L-PRF In the Esthetic Area: A Case Report.
Available at:
https://aeedc.com/conference-program-day-2/ (Accessed 26 July)
[4] Scientific Trends in Clinical Research on Zirconia Dental Implants: A Bibliometric Review.
Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7730252/ (Accessed 26 July)
