Purpose: To evaluate the impact of immediate and delayed zirconia implant placement on crestal bone loss and the clinical outcomes achieved with this approach 1 year after prosthetic loading. Further objectives were to evaluate the influence of age, sex, smoking, implant dimensions, platelet-rich fibrin application and location of the implants in the jawbone on the crestal bone level.
Materials and methods: Clinical and radiographic analysis were performed to evaluate the success rates for both groups. The data were analysed statistically through a linear regression analysis.
Results: No significant difference was found between immediate and delayed implant placement concerning the amount of crestal bone loss. Sex, age, bone augmentation, diabetes and prosthetic complications did not have a statistically significant influence; only smoking had a negative and statistically significant influence on crestal bone loss (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Immediate or delayed placement of one-piece zirconia implants may be a good alternative to the use of titanium implants concerning success and survival.