Zero metal, zero corrosion
Ceramic implants hold their structure for decades without shedding ions or reacting to other dental work.
- Medical-grade zirconia ceramic
- No galvanic currents
- White, tooth-colored material
- Biocompatibility testing available
Metal-Free Dental Implants in St. Petersburg, Florida
Zirconia implants in
Zirconia implants in
St. Petersburg, FL.
Dr. Carlo Litano, DMD places metal-free zirconia ceramic implants planned on low-radiation 3D CBCT imaging and restored by the in-house CAD/CAM lab, often the same day. He trained directly under Dr. Ulrich Volz at Swiss BioHealth and is the only dentist in the Tampa Bay area certified in the Swiss BioHealth protocol.
Why Zirconia
A metal-free ceramic implant for whole body health.
Zirconia is a medical-grade ceramic. A dental implant milled from zirconia carries zero metal, does not corrode, and sets up no galvanic currents with other restorations in the mouth. The material integrates with jawbone, stays inert in the body for life, and its white, tooth-colored surface reads naturally under gum tissue.
-
-
CBCT-planned placement
Every implant starts with a low-radiation 3D scan, so placement is planned around bone density, nerves, and sinus anatomy before surgery begins.
- Low-radiation CBCT imaging
- 3D bone density mapping
- Guided placement planning
- Single-piece and two-piece options
-
Swiss BioHealth Protocol
Dr. Litano follows the surgical and healing protocol developed at Swiss BioHealth in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, where he trained under Dr. Ulrich Volz.
- Ozone-disinfected sites
- LPRF bone-graft healing
- Vitamin D testing available
- Ceramic-only implant systems
Zirconia vs Titanium
Zirconia vs titanium dental implants.
Titanium has a long track record, and for many patients it serves well. Dr. Litano places zirconia because a ceramic implant removes the questions metal raises in a biological treatment plan: corrosion, galvanic currents, and gray margins under thin gum tissue.
The research adds weight to the choice. A Freiburg University study found titanium particles in the surrounding soft and hard tissue in just under 80 percent of peri-implantitis cases, and a 2026 meta-analysis reported survival and clinical outcomes comparable to titanium, without the metal.
Swipe left or right to see the full table
| Property | Zirconia ceramic | Titanium |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Medical-grade ceramic, 100% metal-free | Titanium metal alloy |
| Corrosion | Does not corrode | Can corrode and shed ions over time |
| Galvanic currents | None, ceramic is non-conductive | Possible alongside other metals in the mouth |
| Color under gums | White and tooth-like | Gray, can shadow through thin gum tissue |
| Body response | Inert for life, biocompatibility testing available | Sensitivity and immune response possible in some patients |
| At Natural Smiles | CBCT-planned, Swiss BioHealth protocol, same-day in many cases | Not placed. Natural Smiles is a metal-free practice |
Trained in Switzerland
Trained by the pioneer of ceramic implants.
Dr. Ulrich Volz developed the first FDA-cleared ceramic dental implant and founded Swiss BioHealth in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland. Dr. Carlo Litano, DMD studied under him directly and is the only dentist in the Tampa Bay area trained in the Swiss BioHealth protocol. Every zirconia case at Natural Smiles is planned, placed, and finished to the same standard.
- DMD
- IAOMT SMART certified
- SDS Swiss BioHealth Protocol
- Holistic Dental Association board of directors
- International Academy of Ceramic Implantology
The Process
Zirconia implant treatment, step by step.
Most cases follow four stages. Patients traveling for treatment can complete the surgical phase in one trip and stay in the private apartment one floor above the operatory.
-
Consultation and 3D scan
A low-radiation CBCT scan maps bone density, nerve position, and sinus anatomy. Dr. Litano reads the scan alongside your dental and health history, then writes a treatment plan with a cost estimate before any work begins.
-
Surgical placement
The site is disinfected with medical-grade ozone and the implant, single-piece or two-piece per the plan, is placed under the Swiss BioHealth protocol. LPRF drawn from your own blood supports the site from day one.
-
Healing and integration
Zirconia integrates with the jawbone over the following weeks. Healing time varies per site and is tracked with follow-up imaging; ozone and LPRF keep the site clean without antibiotics in most cases.
-
Final restoration
The in-house lab scans with Primescan and mills a metal-free zirconia crown on-site, in about three hours for single crowns. No putty impressions, no outside lab, no weeks in a temporary.
Same-day placement and restoration are possible in many cases. The CBCT scan determines the timeline for each site.
Same-Day Zirconia
Our in-house lab restores implants same-day.
Scanning, design, and milling happen in one office on Mirror Lake. No outside lab, no second trip, and metal-free zirconia in about three hours for single crowns.
-
CBCT 3D scanner
Three-dimensional bone and soft-tissue imaging that flat 2D x-rays walk past.
- Low-dose volumetric capture
- Reads bone density in 3D
- Maps nerves and sinus anatomy
- Guides implant position
-
In-house CAD/CAM lab
Primescan digital scanning and a Sirona MC X5 mill turn out same-visit zirconia restorations.
- Primescan digital impressions
- Sirona MC X5 mill on-site
- Zirconia in about three hours
- No goopy putty trays
-
Ozone therapy station
Medical-grade ozone disinfects surgical sites and implant beds without antibiotics.
- Implant site preparation
- Extraction socket disinfection
- Antibiotic-free protocol
- Faster post-op healing
Patient Reviews
Zirconia implant reviews from Natural Smiles patients.
Patients fly in from across the U.S. for ceramic implants and drive in from across Florida. A few in their own words, from 700+ verified 5-star reviews on Google and Birdeye.
- ★★★★★Birdeye
"Took both kids here after years of fighting about fluoride at our old office. Nobody lectured us, everything was explained, and my daughter actually asks when the next visit is."
Megan T. St. Petersburg, FL - ★★★★★Google
"Found Dr. Carlo Litano, DMD through a functional medicine forum. Came in from Orlando for a single zirconia implant and walked out with a full plan for the rest of my mouth."
Thomas B. Orlando, FL - ★★★★★Google
"I flew in from Chicago for my cavitation surgery. Staying in the apartment above the clinic made the whole experience effortless. I left feeling better than I had in years."
Sarah M. Chicago, IL
Zirconia Implant FAQ
Questions about zirconia implants in St. Petersburg.
The questions patients ask most before choosing a ceramic implant, on materials, healing, timelines, and traveling to St. Petersburg for treatment.
Zirconia is metal-free and biocompatible, so it does not corrode or set up the galvanic reactions some patients have with titanium. Our in-house CAD/CAM lab places zirconia the same day in many cases. Metal-free dentistry.
Yes. Zirconia is a medical-grade ceramic with zero metal content. It does not corrode, sheds no metal ions, and sets up no galvanic currents with other dental work. Biocompatibility testing is available for patients with material sensitivities.
In many cases, yes. The CBCT scan determines the timeline. When bone volume and the extraction site allow it, Dr. Litano places the implant and the in-house lab restores it in one visit. Same-day crowns.
About three hours for a single crown. The in-house lab scans with Primescan, designs the restoration digitally, and mills it on-site, with no putty impressions and no outside lab. Office technology.
A holistic extraction with ozone disinfection and LPRF bone-graft healing prepares the site for a ceramic implant. When conditions allow, extraction and implant placement happen in a single visit. Holistic extractions.
Costs depend on the treatment plan: the number of implants, any extractions or grafting, and the restoration. You receive a written estimate after the consultation and 3D scan, before any work begins, and the team walks you through payment and insurance reimbursement options. Ask about your case.
Candidacy comes down to bone volume, site health, and treatment goals, all read from the low-radiation CBCT scan at your consultation. Failed root canals, old extraction sites, and metal sensitivities are the cases zirconia implants serve at Natural Smiles. Root canal alternatives.
Yes. Patients fly in from across the U.S. and around the world. A private apartment one floor above the clinic lets traveling patients complete surgery, healing checks, and restoration without booking a separate trip. Plan a visit.
Schedule
Zirconia implant consultations in downtown St. Petersburg.
A consultation with a low-radiation 3D scan gives you a written treatment plan and cost estimate before any decisions. Call (727) 300-0044 or request a visit online.