Zirconia have been applied to dental implants as well as fixed dental prostheses due to their mechanical, esthetic and biocompatible performance. Moreover, they offer an advantage over titanium (Ti) implants, in that there is no risk of discoloration or hypersensitive reaction with allergy. In this review, the durability and tissue-compatibility of zirconia for the oral implants was mainly discussed. Hot isostatic pressing of Y-TZP had higher cyclic fatigue strength than Cp-Ti (Grade-2), leading the sufficient durability. Tissue-compatibility of zirconia; 1) Blast and acid-etching was effective for bone formation with synergetic effect of micro- and nano-topography. 2) Super-hydrophilic treatment, cold plasma in particular, enhanced initial attachment of osteoblast-like cells and oral keratinocytes. 3) Adherence of the periodontopathic bacteria on zirconia was similar to that on Cp-Ti, leading the necessity of surface modification.
Keywords: Fatigue properties; Surface modification; Tissue compatibility; Zirconia implants.