Application of Zirconia Ceramic Biomaterial Implants in the Restoration of Tooth Loss Caused by Periodontal Disease

Abstract

Zirconia ceramics (ZiC) has become a biomaterial with good clinical application prospects due to its good biocompatibility, stability, and excellent mechanical properties. In this study, bioactive glass (BioS) was undertaken as the modifier, and the ZiC precursor solution was penetrated on the surface of the ZiC body or the ZiC particles were coated with the BioS precursor solution, so as to obtain the ZiC with biological activity by introducing the BioS phase. While the material was characterized, its mechanical properties and biological activity were analyzed by simulating the mineralization of the body fluid, including the cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of the material. The ZiC was applied as an implant for restoration of patients with teeth loss caused by periodontal disease. In the test, after surface infiltration of BioS sol or coating of ZiC particles, a very thin BioS phase can be formed on the surface of ZiC after high temperature sintering. The in vitro mineralization test showed that the activation of the grain boundary promoted the deposition of calcium and phosphorus layers on the surface of the sample. The mechanical test revealed that the relative density, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of the material decreased with the infiltration and coating of BioS. However, under proper preparation conditions, the modified ZiC still showed good mechanical properties and can promote the spreading, adhesion, and differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs). Clinical trials proved that after the modified ZiC implant material was implanted in patients with teeth loss, the structure was not loose or broken, and the intraoral prosthesis could function normally. After treatment, the level of IL-1β in the gingival crevicular fluid of the patient decreased obviously (P <0.05). In addition, the probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and other indicators decreased greatly (P <0.05).