S3 Guidelines on Ceramic Dental Implants and Titanium Hypersensitivity: Statements and Recommendations for the Worldwide Implant Dentistry Community

Abstract

The correct choice of implant biomaterial is a key factor in the long-term success of implants. Every clinician should have a thorough knowledge of the various biomaterials used for dental implants. Today, ceramic dental implants conquer slowly their place in the dental implantology market. The products remain often controversial for many practitioners and even some scientists. At one hand, there are the early adapters and convinced users, at the other hand there are uninformed and sometimes stubborn clinicians who only accept titanium as the material for the manufacture of dental implants.Recently, the German Society for Implantology (DGI –Deutsche Gesellschaft für Implantologie) and the German Society for Dental and Oral Medicine (DGZMK –Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde) came with 2 scientifically substantiated guidelines: the first one on the use of dental ceramic implants; the second one on titanium hypersensitivity in implant dentistry. Both guidelines are so-called “S3” guidelines. This means that they are completely evidenceand consensus-based. This article attempts to summarize the various dental biomaterials and it will expand the knowledge and benefits of ceramic implants. S3 guidelines are not only applicable on German implant dentistry and should therefore be spread worldwide to stop the outdated discussion on the role of ceramic implants in dental reconstruction.