Assessing the in-vitro biological responses to modified zirconia-implant/abutment surfaces

Because of biocompatibility concerns and the unpleasing esthetic appearance of titanium, dental implant development is clearly shifting toward alternative metal-free implant systems. Dental zirconia is a promising ceramic alternative because of its esthetic opaque white color and excellent biocompatibility. However, the integration potential of zirconia implants in the jawbone (osseointegration) still remains controversial as some clinical studies have reported a relatively high failure rate when compared to the titanium 'gold-standard' material. On the other hand, there are still missing data regarding zirconia abutments (the connection between the implant fixture in the bone and the oral cavity) that need to establish an efficient soft-tissue attachment to protect the alveolar bone from the oral environment. This project aims to investigate the biological responses to modified zirconia-implant/abutment surfaces in vitro. This will include the assessment of the protein surface-adsorption potential of modified zirconia surfaces and the attachment potential of cells, simulating both soft and hard tissues, to the abutment and the implant respectively using a novel 3D cell-culture model.