Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a zirconia based dental implant, the process comprising the steps. providing a zirconia based dental implant precursor having a density of below about 4 g/cm3, conducting a first surface treatment step to at least a part of the surface of the zirconia based dental implant precursor, sintering the zirconia based dental implant precursor to obtain a sintered zirconia based dental implant precursor, conducting a second surface treatment step to at least those parts of the surface of the sintered zirconia based dental implant precursor, which have been surface treated before. The invention also relates to a dental implant obtainable according to a process as described in the present text and a kit of parts comprising at least one zirconia based dental milling block suitable for being machined to a zirconia based dental implant precursor.