Neodent Zi
Zi is Neodent's zirconia ceramic implant, the metal-free option within the Straumann Group's value tier.
At a glance
- Material
- Zirconia ceramic
- Colour
- Ivory, closer to a natural tooth than grey titanium
- Positioning
- Metal-free option at a value price point
- Ownership
- Straumann Group
- Documentation
- Dedicated product brochure
- Track record
- Shorter than titanium, as with all ceramic implants
The two reasons people choose ceramic
Aesthetics. Zirconia is ivory rather than grey. Where gum tissue is thin at a visible front tooth, titanium can cast a faint grey shadow through it, and recession can expose grey metal at the margin. This is a well-founded reason and the strongest argument for ceramic.
Metal avoidance. Genuine titanium allergy exists but is rare, considerably rarer than online discussion suggests. If this is your reason, it deserves a proper conversation with your dentist and, where appropriate, actual testing rather than an assumption. Our implant materials page covers the evidence in full.
The question to ask about any ceramic implant
Two details separate ceramic implants, and both are worth establishing before you commit.
One-piece or two-piece. A one-piece implant has its post fixed at surgery, the angle cannot be corrected, and the crown must be cemented permanently. A two-piece implant lets the crown be unscrewed and refitted. Over decades that is a real difference.
Is the abutment screw metal? Many two-piece ceramic implants still use a titanium screw, because metal makes a reliable small fastener and ceramic does not. If your reason for choosing ceramic is avoiding metal entirely, ask directly. Nobel's NobelPearl uses a carbon-fibre-reinforced screw specifically to address this.
The evidence position
Titanium implants have been followed in patients since 1965. Ceramic implants are a much newer technology with a correspondingly thinner long-term evidence base, and Neodent's published literature for Zi is a single product brochure. The material is well tolerated by soft tissue and reported results are good, but the depth of follow-up simply is not comparable to titanium's, and you should choose knowing that.
Questions worth asking your dentist
- Is my reason for wanting ceramic aesthetic, or metal avoidance?
- If metal avoidance, have I been tested for titanium sensitivity?
- Is this a one-piece or two-piece implant?
- If two-piece, is the abutment screw metal-free?
- What is the cost difference against a titanium implant?
- How many ceramic implants have you placed, and what has your experience been?
Related systems
Grand Morse Helix
The titanium flagship, with more supporting documentation.
CERALOG Hexalobe
A two-piece ceramic alternative.
References
- Neodent. Zi Ceramic Implant Brochure. Document NAMLIT.2132.
- Neodent. Grand Morse Brochure. Document CALIT-2004.
Specifications compiled from Neodent's publicly available product literature and Canadian product pages. Manufacturer performance claims are identified as such. DentalImplantInfo.ca is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Neodent. Neodent, Grand Morse, Helix, Acqua, NeoPoros and Zi are trademarks of their respective owners, used here for identification and educational purposes.