Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Cosmetic Dentistry · Material Considerations
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a biocompatible post placed in the jawbone, restoring function, appearance and the bone stimulation that a gap slowly loses. At Sydney Holistic Dental Centre, we offer both titanium and metal-free ceramic (zirconia) implants, and we treat the choice of material as a genuine decision rather than a default. Implant care is led by Dr Lewis Ehrlich, who holds a graduate diploma in clinical dentistry (oral implants) from the University of Sydney.
Image of Dental Implant Procedure
Before any discussion of brands and materials, three questions shape whether an implant will succeed in your mouth. They are the heart of the SHDC approach to implant dentistry.
1
Gum disease, decay, cracking from night-time grinding, trauma: whatever took the tooth can take the implant too if it is still active. An implant placed into an unmanaged grinding habit or active periodontal disease is an expensive way to repeat history, so we treat the cause before we place the replacement.
2
Osseointegration, the process by which bone grows onto the implant surface, is a healing process your body has to run. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, some medications and gum health all influence success rates, and an honest assessment covers them before treatment is offered rather than after it fails.
3
For most people titanium performs superbly, and genuine titanium allergy is rare. For patients with known metal sensitivities, autoimmune considerations or a firm preference for metal-free dentistry, zirconia ceramic implants are a proven alternative. Where sensitivity is a live question we work with allergists using current testing methods rather than guessing.
Factor
Titanium
Zirconia (Ceramic)
Track record
The longest evidence base in implant dentistry, decades of published outcomes.
Strong and growing evidence base; long-term (20-year+) data still maturing.
Biocompatibility
Excellent for most patients; true allergy is rare but real.
Metal-free, hypoallergenic, and does not corrode; no metal ions released.
Aesthetics
Can show a grey shadow through thin or receding gum tissue.
White material; no grey show-through even with thin gum biotypes.
Mechanical behaviour
Slightly flexible; two-piece systems standard, forgiving to restore.
Extremely hard; older one-piece designs less flexible to restore, newer two-piece systems closing the gap.
Plaque behaviour
Good with normal hygiene.
Low plaque affinity, a modest advantage for gum health around the implant.
Typical cost
Baseline.
Generally somewhat higher, reflecting material and system costs.
Our position: neither material 'wins'. Titanium remains an excellent, evidence-rich choice, and zirconia is the right answer for a growing group of patients, especially where metal-free dentistry, aesthetics in the smile zone or sensitivity questions lead the decision. What we will not do is dismiss the materials question, because you will live with this decision for decades. The full comparison lives on our Ceramic vs Titanium patient guide.
"An implant is the only dental treatment where we deliberately place a foreign material inside bone and ask the body to accept it for life. That deserves a real materials conversation, not a default. Some of my patients leave with titanium, some with zirconia, and every one of them can tell you why."
DR LEWIS EHRLICH — PRINCIPAL DENTIST (GRAD DIP CLIN DENT ORAL IMPLANTS)
Image of Lewis
1
Enough healthy bone to hold the implant, which we measure precisely with 3D cone beam imaging; grafting can rebuild deficient sites in many cases.
2
Healthy gums, or gum disease brought under control first.
3
General health compatible with minor oral surgery; age itself is rarely the barrier, and we have placed implants successfully for patients in their nineties.
4
Realistic timelines: from placement to final tooth typically spans 3 to 6 months, because osseointegration cannot be hurried.
5
A managed cause of tooth loss, per consideration one above.
Assessment and 3D imaging first, then a written plan covering material choice, staging and costs. Placement is a precise, usually single-visit surgical procedure under local anaesthetic, with sedation options for anxious patients. The implant then integrates for some months beneath a temporary solution, and the final ceramic crown is fitted once integration is confirmed. Ongoing care is unglamorous and decisive: hygiene visits and, where grinding is part of your history, a night splint to protect your investment.
A single implant replaces one missing tooth without touching its neighbours, which is its quiet superiority over a bridge. Several missing teeth can be restored with individual implants or an implant-supported bridge, using fewer implants than teeth replaced. A failing full arch can be restored with a fixed implant-supported prosthesis, a significant undertaking that we plan jointly with you across imaging, materials and staging. The materials conversation applies at every scale, and so do the three considerations above; a full-arch case simply raises the stakes on getting them right.
Image of Implant Consultation
The two forces that shorten an implant's life are the same ones that shorten a tooth's: infection and overload. Peri-implant gum health is maintained the unglamorous way, with excellent home care and regular hygiene visits, and our biological hygiene program monitors implant sites specifically. Overload is the sleeper issue: an implant has no periodontal ligament, no shock absorber and no pain feedback, so a night-time grinding habit works it harder than it works a natural tooth.
Where grinding is part of your history, and it is part of why many teeth are lost in the first place, a night splint is not an optional extra; it is the insurance policy on the whole treatment. Both are covered at planning, in writing, before anything is placed.
A bridge restores a gap by crowning the neighbouring teeth, which is faster and initially less costly, at the price of cutting healthy tooth structure and leaving the bone beneath the gap to resorb slowly. A denture restores appearance and function more affordably again, with the day-to-day compromises wearers know well. An implant is the only option that replaces the root itself and preserves the bone. The right answer depends on the site, your health, your budget and your priorities, and we cost the honest alternatives side by side, including on our Ceramic Bridges page.
How long do dental implants last?
Published long-term studies report high survival rates over decades, and a well-placed, well-maintained implant can reasonably be expected to last 25 years or more. The crown on top may need renewal earlier, like any restoration. Maintenance is the variable you control.
Are zirconia implants as strong as titanium?
Zirconia is an extremely hard, fracture-resistant ceramic engineered for implant use. Titanium and zirconia have different mechanical personalities rather than a simple strength ranking; the honest comparison is on our ceramic vs titanium guide, including where each excels.
Is the surgery painful?
Placement is done under local anaesthetic and most patients report less discomfort than they expected, often comparing it favourably to an extraction. Sedation options are available; see our dental anxiety page.
Can I have an implant straight after an extraction?
Sometimes, depending on infection, bone and site. Immediate placement, early placement and delayed placement each have their indications; your 3D imaging decides which is right, not a slogan.
What do implants cost?
Cost depends on material, site, grafting needs and the final restoration. Indicative ranges in Australian dollars are on the implant cost page, and every plan is confirmed in writing before treatment.
Book a consultation and we'll assess your suitability, discuss material options and create a written plan before any treatment begins.
BOOK A CONSULTATIONLewis image
Dr Lewis Ehrlich
Principal Dentist · Grad Dip Clin Dent (Oral Implants), University of Sydney
Dr Lewis Ehrlich leads implant care at Sydney Holistic Dental Centre. He holds a graduate diploma in clinical dentistry (oral implants) from the University of Sydney and brings a material-agnostic, patient-first approach to every case.
