Zirconia implants Dr. Panahpour, Santa Monica
A ceramic tooth root with no metal in it. White, non conductive and planned in 3D, for patients who want a metal free mouth.
- Ceramic, metal free and white
- Planned with 3D cone beam imaging
- Your bite measured before any implant is planned
- Weston A. Price Foundation
- Remarkable Dentists Podcast
- Exposing Mold Podcast
- Dr. Wendy Myers
- This Healthy Life
Some patients do not want metal in their jaw.
Titanium has been the standard implant material for decades. But some patients have a known sensitivity to metals, some already carry several different metals in their mouth, and some simply want a metal free mouth after their old amalgam has been removed.
Zirconia gives them a choice. It is a ceramic, so it does not corrode and does not conduct electricity. And it is white, so there is no grey shadow if the gum thins over the years.
This page is for you if
- You are missing a tooth and want a metal free replacement
- You have a known sensitivity to metals
- You have had amalgam removed and want to stay metal free
- You want no grey shadow at the gum line over the years
Planned before it is placed.
From the first scan to the final tooth.
- 01
The bite first
How your teeth meet is measured before anything is planned. Clenching and grinding load any implant, ceramic or metal.
- 02
3D planning
Cone beam CT maps the height, width and density of the bone and the nerves and sinus nearby, so the position is planned in advance.
- 03
Placement
The ceramic implant is placed into the prepared site, with ozone used to disinfect the field.
- 04
Healing support
Platelet rich fibrin made from your own blood can be placed at the site to support healing.
- 05
The tooth
Once the bone has integrated with the implant, the final metal free crown is fitted.
Zirconia or titanium?
Titanium has been used for longer and has the larger body of research. Zirconia's research base is younger and growing. For patients who want no metal at all, it is the ceramic option.
Not every site suits a ceramic implant. Bone volume, the position of the tooth and the forces of your bite all count, and they are assessed with 3D imaging before you commit to anything.
Not sure this is right for you?
Ask Dr. Panahpour directly. The first conversation is unhurried, typically 60 to 90 minutes, by phone or in person.
Implantology trained in Sweden.
Dr. Panahpour trained in implantology in Sweden, and zirconia has been part of his practice since 2001. He plans every implant around the bite as well as the bone, because the forces your teeth carry matter as much as the material.
He is a fourth generation dentist, a Certified Instructor of Biomimetic Dentistry and the author of The Good Dentist.
I've had three surgeries with Dr. Panahpour and I couldn't be in better hands. His focus on the whole-body system, his constantly updated knowledge, and his genuine care for me as a patient are second to none. I would whole-heartedly recommend him to anyone who wants to understand the connection between oral health and body health.
Often part of the same plan
Implant work frequently follows other biological care. These are the protocols most often involved.
Safe mercury filling removal
Silver amalgam removed under the SMART protocol: the tooth isolated, vapour captured at the source and a separate air supply for you.
Safe removal, step by step
Cavitation surgery
Poorly healed bone at old extraction sites, which a flat x-ray often misses. Found on cone beam imaging, cleaned, and supported with ozone and PRF.
About cavitation surgery
Bite therapy and TMJ
When the bite is uneven the jaw tilts, the skull compensates and the neck follows. The bite is measured first, before any restorative work.
How bite therapy works
Ozone therapy
Medical grade ozone to disinfect the field before anything is closed. Used in this practice since 2008.
How ozone is used
Biomimetic restoration
Bonded restorations that behave like natural tooth, trained at the Alleman-Deliperi school in Sardinia. Often an alternative to a crown.
How biomimetic worksBiological dentistry
Materials and methods chosen for how your body responds to them: mercury safe, metal free where it suits, and as little drilling as the tooth allows.
Biological dentist in Santa MonicaVisit us in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Parking
- Garage in the building
- Nearby
- Five minutes from Venice and Mar Vista
- Hours
- By appointment
- Phone
- (310) 986-6001
Patients also travel in from across Southern California and from more than fourteen countries.
What people ask before booking.
Anything else, ask Dr. Panahpour directly.
Ask a question ›What is a zirconia implant?
A dental implant made from zirconium dioxide, a white ceramic, instead of titanium. Like any implant, it replaces the root of a missing tooth and supports a crown.
Are zirconia implants really metal free?
Yes. Zirconium is a metallic element, but zirconia, its oxide, is a ceramic. It does not corrode and does not conduct electricity.
Who is a good candidate for a zirconia implant?
Patients who want a metal free option, including people with a known metal sensitivity and those who have had amalgam removed. Bone volume, the tooth's position and the forces of the bite decide whether a particular site suits ceramic, and that is assessed with 3D imaging first.
How long does the process take?
It depends on the bone and on whether a tooth needs to be removed first. Healing usually takes a few months before the final crown is fitted. You will get a timeline for your case after the 3D scan.
Can an implant go where I had a cavitation or an old extraction?
Often, once the site is healthy. Old extraction sites are checked on cone beam imaging first, and any area that has not healed properly is treated before an implant is planned.
Do you place zirconia implants in Sacramento too?
Yes. Implant cases can be planned and treated at either office.
See if ceramic suits you.
The first conversation is unhurried, typically 60 to 90 minutes, by phone or in person.
- 01Reach outSend the form, call or WhatsApp. Your message goes straight to Dr. Panahpour.
- 02A real conversationYour history, what has already been tried, and what you want from this. No rush.
- 03A clear planWhat he finds and what he would do, including when the answer is that you need nothing.
Closer to Sacramento? See the Sacramento office
Got it. Thank you.
Your message reached Dr. Panahpour directly. Someone from the office will reply within 1 to 2 business days.