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Developed by a practicing dentist, the Zosseo Universal Implant Drill Stop kit
allows for osteotomies that do not require as precise a visualization for depth control. It has a single width for all drills – only requires length determination for the osteotomy and has precise depth penetration – eliminating the risk of over drilling and potential sinus or nerve complications.
The million or so artificial hips and knees implanted each year in the United States are normally not guaranteed. Instead, the costs of replacing implants that fail early because of design or mechanical problems — devices that sell for as much as $15,000 each — are largely paid by Medicare, insurance companies and patients.
Implants can fail for many reasons, but if only a small percentage of them fail prematurely because they are substandard, the costs to taxpayers, policyholders and patients can run into the tens of millions of dollars each year, health care experts estimate.
Orthopedic producers may sometimes even profit from the failures because they sell the replacements at full price.
“Companies have dumped these costs into the health care system,” said Dr. Lawrence D. Dorr, an orthopedic surgeon in Los Angeles who two years ago took the unusual step of drawing attention to one problematic hip device. “They don’t have any skin in the game.”
A Las Vegas dentist has filed a FDA Med Watch report regarding the integrity and therefore sterility of Nobel Biocare Replace Implants. To quote from the report:
"I have experienced substantial and unexplainable failures with Nobel Biocare`s ("Nobel") Replace(TM) Implants. Of 88 consecutively placed implants,34 required removal due to pain or infection for a failure rate of 38.6% (Attachment #1). I doubt these failures are caused entirely by my case selection or surgical skill because I also recorded the clinical success of 51 consecutively places Implant Direct RePlant(TM) Implants from 2008-2009 with only 2 requiring removal for a failure rate of 3.9% I brought this information to Nobel Biocare`s attention, as shown in my letter of October 27, 2008 (Attachment #3) and submitted failure reports on their forms (Attachment #4). Nobel refused to take back my remaining implant inventory, contending that the problem lay with my surgical skills rather than with their implants. After Nobel`s refusal, I continued to use some of my remaining inventory of Nobel Replace implants while also incorporating Implant Direct`s RePlant implants into my practice. After experiencing a significantly higher failure rate with the Nobel Replace implants compared to Implant Direct`s RePlant implants, I stopped using the Nobel implants altogether. Seven Nobel implants from my inventory were sent to Nelson Labs (Attachment #5) and eight were sent to an ISTA Certified Lab (Attachment #6) for dye immersion tests. As can be seen on these reports, all of the implants tested failed to provide a seal required to assure the maintenance of sterility of the contents."
Dr. Paul Sharpe`s company Odontis Ltd. has been awarded US Patent #7588936 for the regeneration of teeth primordia using bone marrow cells. Bone marrow cells may be employed to generate teeth without the need for purification and expansion of a population of cells. The group of British scientists claim that they have figured out a way to make dentures obsolete, with the power of stem cells. Simply put, stem cells taken from a patient will be used to grow a bunch of cells that will grow into a tooth. The cells will then be implanted in an incision in the patient’s gum. Even more amazing, the process of “nudging” the stem cells to turn into a “ball of cells” that will in turn become a tooth supposedly takes only two weeks. The scientists have formed a company, Odontis, to capitalize on their technique, and they are calling their (potential) product the BioTooth.
Dental implant makers lost their shine as a recession-proof investment during the global crisis, which turned fixing smiles into a luxury for consumers who struggled to pay for non-essential work on their mouths. "In spite of their rather functional nature, implants are similar to luxury goods in the sense that they are expensive, discretionary items," Jefferies analyst Stephan Gasteyger said. The dental implant market earned a reputation for being recession-proof by maintaining double-digit growth rates in prior downturns, but the exceptionally tight credit markets during the recent crisis killed growth last year.
Implants have proven to be more cyclical than other parts of the medical technology sector as patients usually have to pay for the often expensive treatments themselves and are rarely reimbursed by insurance policies.
"We are talking about a price category that is similar to a nice Swiss watch," Gasteyger said.
With economic pressures affecting millions of Americans, dentists may have noticed a drop in patients opting for a brighter smile, but they are seeing another phenomenon: a rise in the number of teeth grinders. “I’m seeing a lot more people that are anxious, stressed out and very concerned about their financial futures and they’re taking it out on their teeth,” said Dr. Steven Butensky, a dentist with a specialty in prosthodontics (aesthetic, implant and reconstructive dentistry) in Manhattan.
One of his patients lost hundreds of thousands of dollars invested with Bernard L. Madoff. Another reported that he had lost a job with a seven-figure salary. A third, a single mother with a floral design business on Long Island, said she was working twice as hard for half as much.
Numerous dental implant company`s have sprung up over the last 3 years that aim to deliver either very similar designs or almost direct copies of established company`s design. These clone implants are often substantially less expense i.e. 1/4 the cost of full service dental implant company`s implants. In addition to mimicking the implant, they have also expanded into compatible prosthetic parts and coverscrews. Especially prominent clone makers Blue Sky Bio (Clone: Straumann, Nobel Biocare and Zimmer) and Dr. Niznick`s Implant Direct (Clone: Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Astra, Zimmer, 3i) are an attractive temptation during less sunny economic times. With some newer designs from the large manufacturers costing close to $500US for the implant and coverscrew, the $100US "out the door" pricing argument of the clone makers is compelling. The Large Manufacturer`s Argument: We invest huge sums in R&D, Service and Support so we want a return on our investment. The Clones` Argument: Marketing+Distribution+Recruitment of Opinion Leaders = 50% the cost of overhead - we dispense with that and pass on the savings to the dentist.
Both are reasonable arguments. One thing is for sure, competition is never a bad thing.
Anna Tampieri at the Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, Faenza, and colleagues have turned wood into bone mimics that could be used to repair damaged limbs. The Italian scientists were inspired by nature`s highly organised hierarchial structures to make porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds with structures similar to that of real bone. The scaffolds `pave the way for realising prosthetic devices which could get closer to the extraordinary performance of human tissues`, they claim.
The team heated the wood to decompose the organic parts that make up most of its weight, leaving behind the carbon template. They reacted the template first with calcium, then oxygen and then carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate. Finally, they converted it to hydroxyapatite using a phosphate donor. The material keeps its original microstructure, exploiting the unique architectural properties of the wood`s cellular make-up, explains Tampieri. This means cells and blood vessels can grow through the structure and incorporate it into the original bone.
The New York Times health section recently published an informative article on the trend away from using bridges to replace missing teeth and toward replacement with dental implants. The comments section of this article is also particularly lively and well-worth reading.
The Powertome 100S from Westport Medical is a powered periotome used in the extraction of teeth. It features a powered periotome blade that is precisely guided in the periodontal ligament by a microprocessor controlled, solenoid actuator. It features a footswitch activated handle similar to other dental hand pieces and the operation, actuation and sterilization are therefore intuitive.
A former US Army orthropedic surgeon, Dr. Timothy Kuklo, previously accused of falsifying a study on a bone growth product used on severely injured Iraq war veterans has resigned his teaching position at Washington University in St. Louis. He was placed on leave earlier this year while the university investigated charges against him. Medtronic, a maker of the bone growth product Infuse, also suspended his consulting contract. The company paid him nearly $800,000 the last few years. An investigation last year by Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, where Dr. Kuklo worked before joining the university, concluded that he had falsified parts of a study that claimed greater benefits than other Army surgeons reported for the Medtronic bone growth product. The Army reported its findings to the university and a medical journal. Dr. Kuklo was also found to have forged the signatures of four listed co-authors, who told Army investigators that they did not approve the study. The British Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery retracted the study earlier this year
Tel Aviv University researcher Prof. Noam Eliaz of the TAU School of Mechanical Engineering has developed an electrochemical process for coating metal implants which vastly improves their functionality, longevity and integration into the body. "The surface chemistry, structure and morphology of our new coatings resemble biological material," explains Prof. Eliaz. "We`ve been able to enhance the integration of the coating with the mineralized tissue of the body, allowing more peoples` bodies to accept implants." His new coating resulted in a 33% decrease in the level of materials failure, or delamination, in these implants.
The next-generation coating will include nano-particles to reinforce the coating. It will also have the potential to incorporate biological material or drugs during the process itself.
Patients who subconsciously take out stress on their teeth at night is nothing new. But the recession is. A periodontist, Dr. David Samuels reports that he can practically see the impact of the economy in his patients’ X-rays.
“On these films right here that we’re looking at, this area right here represents the top of the tooth – a fracture of the top of the tooth from clenching and grinding,” Samuels says. “You also see flattened surfaces on tops of the teeth. And then if you look down here below, you’ll see the bone loss associated with clenching and grinding. So even on the X-rays, you can see evidence, if you will, of increased stress in someone’s life. And we do see more of that now than we used to.”
About twice as much. Samuels is also the head of the Massachusetts Dental Society. A survey of its 5,000 members reveals business from stress-related tooth injuries has generally doubled.
The most common remedy for teeth grinding is a preventative bite guard. Generic ones you can buy a drugstore cost about $25. Samuels says they’re better than nothing. But he recommends custom-fit ones.
Martin Jones, 42-year-old builder, was left blind after an accident at work more than a decade ago. After a remarkable operation in which part of his tooth was implanted in his eye, he can now regain some of his lost sight. The procedure involved taking a minute section of a patient`s tooth, reshaping and chiselling through to grip the man-made lens which was then placed in its core.
It is implanted under an eyelid where it become covered in tissue.
The process required a living tooth as an implant because doctors suggest there are chances the eye would reject a plastic equivalent.
So a canine - which is the best option due to its shape and size - was taken out of Mr Jones` mouth.
A patch of skin is then taken from the inside of the cheek and placed in the eye for two months, where it gradually acquires its own blood supply.
The tooth segment is finally transplanted into the eye socket. The flap of grafted skin is then partially lifted from the eye and placed over its new sturdy base. Finally, surgeons cut a hole in the grafted cornea to let light through.
Manhattan Scientifics has announced that its NanoTitanium product has been approved by the FDA. The patented new form of titanium metal originally developed by Russian scientists in concert with scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory is expected to significantly improve dental implants. Studies have shown that bone integrates with these new metals up to 20 times faster than with conventional metals. Patients should experience shorter post surgery healing times and a more reliable integration of these new implants into their body. NanoTitanium is highly compatible with bone and is
thought to provide stronger, faster bonding with improved strength, biocompatibility, longer life and improved wear and tear.
Founded in 2001, Metallicum (recently acquired by Manhattan Scientifics) has developed methods to modify the microstructure of metals by “nanostructuring”
them. This procedure simultaneously increases
the biocompatibility and strength of virtually any
metal. For example, nanostructuring pure titanium
(the material that is most commonly used in dental
implants) can more than double its strength, making it
stronger than most existing titanium alloys. The ability
of bone cells to attach to nanostructured pure titanium
surfaces at rates greater than 100% higher than
with conventional alloys enables the development
and marketing of a dental implant that can be fully
integrated and useable with half the healing time of
existing products.
Brookhaven Science Associates, the company that operates and manages the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), and Biosurface Engineering Technologies, Inc. (BioSET), have been issued a U.S. patent on a synthetic peptide, called B2A. B2A enhances the effects of a tissue growth factor known as bone morphogenetic protein 2, or BMP-2. BMPs are a family of proteins in the human body responsible for the proliferation, repair and differentiation of cells in many tissues, including bone. Tom Rouche, BioSET President and CEO said “We have developed a novel combination medical device, called AMPLEX, that incorporates B2A osteo-inductive growth factor with an ultra-high grade ceramic bone substitute for use in this type of surgery. Preclinical studies have found that it is a safe and highly effective.”
Among the new products presented by Straumann at the International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany is a comprehensive instrument kit for guided implant surgery. The kit contains all the instruments, drills, profilers and taps needed to place Straumann implants with surgical templates currently made with open-library (non-exclusive) 3D software systems, including IVS, Materialise, med3D, iDent, and siCAT.
Scientists at Oregon State University have found a gene involved in enamel production.
In the latest research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team led by Chrissa Kioussi and Mark Leid bred mice that lacked a gene known as Ctip2. The gene, called Ctip2, is a "transcription factor" that was already known to have several functions - in immune response, and the development of skin and the nervous system. Scientists can now add tooth development to that list. The discovery was made after researchers noticed that mice born without the gene grew teeth lacking enamel.
By understanding the genetics of tooth development, Kioussi said it may be possible to repair damaged enamel and even produce new teeth in the laboratory.
Paul Sharpe, an expert on tooth development at the Dental Institute at King`s College London, said: "If you could find some way of growing ameloblasts that make enamel, you could find a way to repair teeth.
"Any gene like this is worth understanding. The more we learn about it the more we can use the information to make biological models of tooth repair."
Swiss implant manufacturer, Thommen Medical, have developed a new implant packaging system which allows chairside surface conditioning of their implant. The applicator makes effective chairside surface conditioning fast and intuitive. In a matter of seconds, the conditioning agent contained in the applicator hydroxylates the implant surface to achieve the super-hydrophilic INICELL surface.
During the chairside conditioning with APLIQUIQ the surface chemistry is slightly modified by hydroxylation. The result of this process is increased surface energy and improved wettability.
The superhydrophilic INICELL surface exhibits a water contact angle of less than 5 degrees. A hydrophilic surface, by comparison, is generally considered to have a contact angle of 90 degrees or less.
These properties of the INICELL surface promote spontaneous and complete wetting with physiological fluids, particularly blood.
The JDMultiscraper is designed for autologous bone harvesting. It features a autoclavable body with interchangeable blades, which can be changed once cutting performance degrades.
Université de Montréal Researchers have modified metal surfaces such as titanium producing a sponge-like pattern of nano pits that increased growth of bone cells, decreased growth of unwanted cells and stimulated stem cells, relative to untreated smooth ones. In addition, expression of genes required for cell adhesion and growth were increased in contact with the nanoporous surfaces. “We demonstrated that some cells stick better to these surfaces than they do to the traditional smooth ones,” says Dr. Nanci. “This is already an improvement to the standard available biomaterial.” “Using chemical modification, we have produced metals with intelligent surfaces that positively interact with cells and help control the biological healing response. These will be the building-blocks of new and improved metal implants that are expected to significantly affect the success of orthopedic, dental and cardiovascular prostheses.”
SinusTech America have released a sinus lift kit that features a unique reamer design that cuts, lifts and elevates the floor of the sinus with minimal danger of damage. They claim that the technique minimizes the possibility of damage to the sinus membrane, forms an appropriate sized osteotomy site for implant placement and allows for the placement of bone grafting materials into the elevated sinus cavity.
A study in the November issue of the Journal of Endodontics claims that dental implants require much more follow-up treatment than root canals, according to a study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Their study results reported that the success rate for the dental implants was 98.4 percent; for root canals it was 99.3 percent. However, 12.4 percent of the dental implants required additional interventions, compared with 1.4 percent of the root canals.
“Considering these results in light of the growing body of evidence on the impact of oral health on overall health, it is imperative for dental professionals to partner with endodontists who have advanced training in examining whether a natural tooth can be saved through root canal treatment,” said Dr. Louis Rossman, an endodontist and president of the American Association of Endodontists.
UC San Diego bioengineers and material science experts used a nano-bio technology method of placing mesenchymal stem cells on top of very thin titanium oxide nanotubes in order to control the conversion paths, called differentiation, into osteoblasts or bone building cells. Mesenchymal stem cells, which are different from embryonic stem cells, can be extracted and directly supplied from a patient’s own bone marrow.
The researchers described their lab findings in a paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), “Stem Cell Fate Dictated Solely by Altered Nanotube Dimension".
Australian researchers have linked mouthwash containing alcohol to an increased risk of developing oral cancer. The alcohol in mouthwash is believed to allow cancer causing compounds to attack the lining of the mouth more easily.
The review author, Michael McCullough, is an Associate Professor in Oral medicine at Melbourne University. He says dentists need to be aware of the risks of mouthwash. "If they are going to recommend alcohol-containing products then they recommend it for a good reason, for a short period of time," he said.
"With this evidence that we`ve reviewed, we think it`s not advisable for them to recommend it for the long, over a long period of time."
Austrian Surgeons have designed a system to produce via CAD/CAM individualized Zirconium Dental Implants for use in case of immediate implant placement. In short, after a tooth is extracted it is scanned and a zirconium copy is milled. The milled copy has macro-retentive features which help secure the new implant in the extraction socket. They report a 90% success rate.
Keystone Dental, funded by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, has settled an unfair competition lawsuit from Noble Biocare for $2million. "The settlement terms provide for Keystone Dental to pay $2 million to Nobel Biocare and that Keystone Dental not hire or solicit any current Nobel Biocare employee through February 1, 2009," the world`s largest maker of dental implants said in a statement. Nobel Biocare filed a lawsuit in late 2007, saying Keystone Dental systematically targeted and hired Nobel Biocare`s sales and marketing employees to gain an unfair competitive advantage. Under the settlement, Keystone Dental is required to destroy confidential and proprietary information on Nobel Biocare in its or its employees` possession, Nobel said.
Straumann revealed a new implant material, Roxolid [Rock-Solid], a Titanium- Zirconium alloy that is 50% stronger than pure titanium. Initial animal studies show a significant increase in removal torque values over Straumann`s current SLActive titanium implants. Human trials are underway in Europe and North America. Straumann expects to have the design released for initial markets in 2009.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Medtronic`s `Infuse Bone Graft` has been linked to life-threatening complications in dozens of patients. The FDA warned surgeons in July that it had received reports of life-threatening complications associated with using the product in surgeries on the cervical spine, around the neck. The agency said it received 38 reports over four years of side effects, mainly swelling of neck and throat tissue, which resulted in compression of the airway and other structures in the neck. Patients reported difficulty swallowing, breathing and speaking. Several required emergency treatment, including tracheotomies and the insertion of feeding tubes, as well as second surgeries, according to reports filed with the FDA.
Dr. Schubert Sapian has designed a innovative root removal system that extracts the entire root without sectioning. A specialized extraction screw is driven into the largest canal then a cushioned silicone fulcrum tray is placed over the adjacent teeth and a pry bar is used to apply vertical pressure to the root resulting in its atraumatic extraction.
Implant pioneer Gerald Niznick`s Implants Direct concept of internet-based factory-direct-to-dentist implant sales plans on launching a copy of the Straumann implant design in September. Having already successfully marketed a copy of Nobel Biocare`s implant designs. Read this interview with an European trade journal for interesting details of the strategy.
The FDA has reinspected the BIORA facility and is satisfied with the improvements made. Because the focus of the observations was on the maintenance of quality system documentation and procedures, changes to Straumann® Emdogain, Straumann® PrefGel and Straumann® BoneCeramic were not needed in order to resolve the FDA issues.
Straumann has changed the delivery mechanism of Straumann® PrefGel from a pipette to a syringe, which will help to ensure easier, more effective handling of the root conditioner.
A court in Germany has dismissed a request from Belgian dental implant software maker Materialise for an injunction against a Nobel Biocare software product, NobelGuide. Belgium software maker, Materialise had alleged the updated version of Nobel Biocare`s NobelGuide software infringed one of its patents, a spokesman for Nobel Biocare told Reuters on Wednesday. The Duesseldorf district court decided that the NobelGuide software does not infringe the Belgian company`s patent. The updated version had been introduced as a response to last year`s decision by the same court that found an infringement in the previous software version, Nobel Biocare said.
Canadian researchers at the NRC Industrial Materials Institute (NRC-IMI) in Boucherville, Quebec have developed a porous titanium foam implant said to mimic a metallic version of bone. The titanium foam is made by mixing titanium powder with a polymer, and then adding foaming agents that expand the polymer when heated. Later, through a high-temperature heat treatment, the polymer is removed and the titanium particles are consolidated to provide mechanical strength to the porous structure. Porous titanium had previously been used in orthopaedic applications, but never for dental implants - although its properties are ideal for this purpose. Louis-Philippe Lefebvre, a powder metallurgy researcher at NRC-IMI, added: `The rough surface creates friction between the implant and the bone, and also allows bone growth into the pores to help fix the implant in place.` Among its potential benefits, titanium foam could make dental implants less invasive. Lefebvre explained that in difficult cases, implantation requires a bone graft. He said: `With better friction, you can insert smaller implants into less bone so patients may not need bone graft surgery.`
Canadian researchers at the University of Alberta have found the surface nanocrystallization of a metallic material is an effective approach for modifying the surface energy of metals. "Our results demonstrate that the combination of surface nanocrystallization and thermal oxidation treatment is a promising approach to suppress the formation of infectious biofilms on metallic materials, thus providing a surface technique to minimize bacterial biofilms on implant surfaces for improved orthodontic and orthopedic applications" says Li the lead researcher. This surface modification is promising not only for suppressing bacterial biofilms on medical implant materials but also has potential in treating materials for food processing and storage as well as for bio-corrosion control. Li points out that it is also possible to add additional elements into the nanocrystalline surface layer to further improve surfaces with anti-bacteria capability.
3M ESPE`s digital dental impression system has been selected as a bronze award winner in the International Design Excellence Awards for 2008. This digital dental impression system captures continuous 3D video images to create precise 3D dental models. Intended for use by dentists and hygienists, it eliminates the discomfort of traditional methods and improves communication between patients and dentists by allowing immediate chair-side review. To create a digital impression, the dentist positions the wand in the patient`s mouth and glides the tip over the teeth to capture surface data. The 3D data is collected and reviewed in real-time on the display.
A report by scientists from the Netherlands published in the FASEB Journal identifies a compound in human saliva that greatly speeds wound healing. Scientists found that Histatin, a small protein in saliva previously only believed to kill bacteria was responsible for the healing. Because saliva is a complex liquid with many components, the next step was to identify which component was responsible for wound healing. Using various techniques the researchers split the saliva into its individual components, tested each in their wound model, and finally determined that Histatin was responsible. "This study not only answers the biological question of why animals lick their wounds," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal, "it also explains why wounds in the mouth, like those of a tooth extraction, heal much faster than comparable wounds of the skin and bone. It also directs us to begin looking at saliva as a source for new drugs
Dr. Jong-Ho Lee, a Korean dentist, has patented his design for a free-angled screwdriver and abutment. The system addresses the prosthetic problem of access screw hole placement. The free-angled driver consists of 2 to 3 sections connected using universal joints which allows the unrestricted rotation of the free-angled driver at any angle. The free-angled driver eliminates the need for a straight channel to access the abutment screw. The abutment screw can be screwed and unscrewed using the curved channel up to 30 degrees and 35Ncm.
Michael Mastromarino, the leader of the body-snatching ring that plundered the corpse of broadcaster Alistair Cooke apologized to the victims as he was sentenced to 18-54 years in prison. "I am deeply sorry for all the emotional pain I have caused to donor families and donor recipients," he told the Brooklyn Supreme Court in New York. Mastromarino once ran a dental practice on New York`s Fifth Avenue specializing in dental implant surgery. But he was forced to surrender his dental liscence and go into drug rehabilitation after he allegedly abandoned a patient under general anesthetic and was found in his office bathroom with a hypodermic needle in his arm. At a hearing last month, Mastromarino apologized when confronted by angry victims - including a woman who had received stolen bone. Dayna Ryan told the court she was infected with Hepatitis B after receiving an implant of stolen bone in spinal surgery.
"His sick, disgusting, appalling actions, all in the name of greed, have devastated my family," she said. Two other members of the body-snatching ring had already been sent to jail.
Novel processing of commercially pure titanium (CP Ti) has produced exceptional mechanical properties and recent clinical trials have proven its superior biocompatibility as well. CP Ti is desirable mainly for its superior biocompatibility, but suffers from low strength compared to either steel or alloyed titaniums. Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processing aims to get microstructural refinement to a level not achievable with traditional processing yielding nanocrystalline titanium. Fatigue life has nearly doubled and although damage tolerance suffered, the levels are still more than acceptable for medical devices. Mouse fibroblast cells were seeded to test biological compatibility, and the SPD-processed titanium showed significant improvements in cell occupancy rates, compared to conventionally processed CP Ti. Clinical trials of this material are progressing well using dental implants, where the higher strength has allowed for smaller implants to be fabricated, enabling surgeries that were previously limited by small spaces and insufficient bone to anchor the implant.
Bioengineers and bioscientists at Rice University and Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands, have shown they can grow denser bone tissue by sprinkling stick-like nanoparticles throughout the porous material used to pattern the bone. To grow new bone, tissue engineers typically place bone cells on porous, biodegradable materials called scaffolds, which act as patterns. With the right chemical and physical cues, the cells can be coaxed into producing new bone. As the scaffold degrades, it is replaced by new bone. "Ideally, a scaffold should be highly porous, nontoxic and biodegradable, yet strong enough to bear the structural load of the bone that will eventually replace it," said lead researcher Antonios Mikos, Rice`s J.W. Cox Professor in Bioengineering, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and the director of Rice`s Center for Excellence in Tissue Engineering. "Previous research has shown that carbon nanotubes give added strength to polymer scaffolds, but this is the first study to examine the performance of these materials in an animal model."
SurgeryTec is a Netherlands based website that allows members to upload and share surgical technique videos and slideshows. The site has a majority of medical surgery related videos, but some oral surgery/implantology related surgeries are also included.
A shortage of NHS dentists is leading to thousands of needless deaths from mouth cancer, according to dental experts. "The survival rate of mouth cancer has not improved in 30 years," Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation said. "If people were able to gain easier access to a dentist then the 50 per cent mortality rate could be significantly improved. It is Britain`s secret cancer despite killing more people annually than cervical and testicular cancer put together." There are 4,750 new cases of mouth cancer in Britain a year.
A recent BBC documentary reported that there is an epidemic of poor teeth in Britain. 1 in 5 people never visit the dentist. 1 in 10 is terrified of the dentist chair. Sugar consumption, eating disorders, and bad diet make Britain’s global reputation for being a nation of terrible teeth completely justified.
The Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry has selected BreakAway, Ltd. to develop a virtual, 3D simulator to help teach students dental implant procedures. The virtual dental office is designed to improve student learning outcomes in the areas of diagnostics, decision making and treatment protocols for enhanced patient therapy outcomes and risk management. The computer application will be initially developed and tested in conjunction with MCG dental students and faculty. It will then be tested by other universities in the NobelBiocare University Partner Program and distributed globally.
3M announced that it will acquire Imtec Corp, a leading manufacturer of mini dental implants. “We are looking forward to the reputation, resources and worldwide reach that 3M brings to help us build this business,” said Ron Bulard, DDS and Chairman of the Board, IMTEC Corp. “Its overall strength in oral care with both the 3M ESPE and 3M Unitek divisions makes them a particularly good partner for us.” This acquisition gives 3M ESPE access to two of the fastest growing segments in the dental industry. “Our combined digital products and expertise will enable a digital ‘total restorative’ approach with more options than ever, including IMTEC implants, 3MTM ESPETM LavaTM crowns, and 3M’s advanced digital workflow solutions,” said Jeffrey Lavers, vice president and general manager, 3M ESPE. “Together, we will have an end-to-end implantology solution, making the process easier, faster and better for dentists everywhere.”
Novalar has developed NV101, a novel compound that is the only local anesthetic reversal agent that accelerates the return to normal sensation and function following restorative and periodontal maintenance procedures. Novalar has contracted with the leading North American supplier of dental anesthesia cartridges to manufacture NV-101. NV-101 treated patients reported the return of sensation and function in less than half the time it normally took after receiving local dental anesthesia. NV-101 induced a 54.8 percent and a 62.3 percent decrease in time to normal for those with anesthesia administered in the mandible and maxilla respectively.
Southern Implants have released an implant design to address immediate placement in maxillary molars. The very wide (8-9mm) diameter tapered implant is designed to obliterate the molar extraction socket. The placement of this implant involves the use of a shaping tap to taper the osteotomy. Their implant design features both an external hex as well as an internal connection.
The Baha system utilizes direct bone conduction, which allows the bone to transfer sound to a functioning cochlea – thereby bypassing the middle ear. This unique hearing treatment is the only system of its kind cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hearing loss.
One reason the Baha system works so well is due to its simple design. The Baha system combines a sound processor with an abutment and a small titanium implant. The implant is placed behind the non-functioning ear. Surgery is minor, and Baha recipients report a wide range of advantages over other hearing devices.
The Baha system, which is based on bone conduction, utilizes a titanium implant, which is placed in the skull bone behind the ear. An abutment connects the sound processor with the implant in the bone. This creates direct (percutaneous) bone conduction. In contrast, traditional bone conductors connect indirectly to the bone through unbroken skin (transcutaneous) and work by exerting pressure against the skull.
Direct bone conduction, provided by Baha, gives improved access to sound when compared to traditional bone conductors since sound is not weakened when passing through the skin
Tighter laws are on the cards for dentists wishing to practice implantology in Dubai. A proposed change in policy will require dentists to complete 100 hours of implantology study and to present completed case reports, before being permitted to sit for the oral licensing exam. The move is set to infuriate local product companies, who have previously complained of the United Arab Emirate`s excessive licensing requirements.Industry-led courses are likely to be most affected by the ruling, as most are structured to ensure dentists clock up the 96 hours.
"Most of these courses would not be recognised," said Dr Elhami Nicolas, of Nicolas & Asp College of Postgraduate Dentistry. "It is a positive change. People were not receiving adequate education." The news will be a particular blow for Zimmer Dental whose upcoming course, held through Sharjah University`s College of Dentistry, aimed to fast-track local dentists to license level.
Michael Mastromarino, 44, was arrested nearly two years ago, and this month he plead guilty. Mastromarino and two of his associates were charged in 2006 with enterprise corruption, body stealing, opening graves, unlawful dissection and forgery. Authorities released photos of exhumed corpses that were boned below the waist. They said the defendants had made a crude attempt to cover their tracks by sewing PVC pipe back into the bodies in time for open-casket wakes.
The bodies came from funeral homes in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. BTS shipped the bone, skin and tendons to Regeneration Technologies Inc, LifeCell Corp and Tutogen Medical Inc, all publicly traded companies, along with two non-profits, Lost Mountain Tissue Bank and the Blood and Tissue Centre of Central Texas.
Mastromarino plead guilty in March and will be sentenced May 21, to 18 to 54 years in prison.
Researchers at the University of Ankara, Turkey have designed an innovative CAD based implant guide. The design features a plastic stent produced by rapid prototyping methods that snugly fits the implant handpiece and uses a square slot system to guide the drill direction as opposed to the metal/plastic sleeves used by similar systems. This allows for better visualization of the surgical area and negates the use of stepped sleeves of increasing diameter to guide the twist drill. Additionally it eliminates the risk of metal shavings entering the osteotomy site.
A US patent has been issued to Biomet 3i for an implant which features two anti-rotational elements. One anti-rotational feature is adapted to engage a driving tool, while the other anti-rotational feature is adapted to engage an abutment. An implant abutment system is provided with an angled abutment adapted to mate with one of the anti-rotational features. A second, straight abutment is adapted to engage with the other anti-rotational feature. An abutment is provided with resilient fingers to interface with the implant and provide tactile and audible feedback indicating when the abutment is properly seated. An abutment screw extends through the abutment and engages the implant bore distal of the stem of the abutment. The abutment screw limits axial movement of the abutment relative to the implant. A driving tool comprising one of at least retention structure and visual alignment indicia is provided to facilitate screwing the implant into a patient`s bone.
Gendex has released its latest imaging system. The GXB-500 features a medium size form-factor cone beam CT for for implant planning, TMJ analysis, and small oral surgery procedures. The system’s unique Amorphous Silicon Flat Panel sensor yields accurate, highly detailed image quality at the fastest scan and reconstruction rates in the industry (8.9 seconds and 20 seconds respectively), that allow dental teams to experience greatly improved workflow. Adding to the value of the GXCB-500, the system serves a dual function—it also features traditional digital panoramic imaging for capturing 2-D data
Allison, a green sea turtle, lost three of her flippers in a shark attack. To prevent her swimming in a permanent spiral, researchers plan on fitting a prosthetic flipper attached via a dental implant. The other option would be an external strap-on device. She was rescued in 2005 on the sub-tropical shores of South Padre Island on the Texas Gulf coast and now resides in a small tank at Sea Turtle, Inc, a research and conservation center which among other things rehabilitates injured sea turtles. The implant will go where her lower left flipper once was and even if it is successful she will still not be released back into the wild as the flipper will have to be replaced periodically and enlarged as she grows. The dental implant will be the work of Dr. Sudarat Kiat-Amnuay, an assistant professor at The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. It might work on Allison because the size of the dental implant ranges from 2 mm to 6 mm and the diameter of her bone is about 10 mm. "We are going to drill into the bone and then place the implant and let it integrate for a few months and if it integrates then we can add the flipper," she said. The prosthetic appendage would be made from an imprint of a flipper of a dead turtle of a similar size.
Researchers at the Dunedin School of Medicine, Dunedin, New Zealand have reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that Cannabis smoking may be a risk factor for periodontal disease that is independent of the use of tobacco. Tobacco smoking was strongly associated with periodontal disease experience, but there was no interaction between cannabis use and tobacco smoking in predicting the condition`s occurrence
As previously reported, Clearchoice Dental Implant Centers provide one stop implant services: CT-Scan, surgery and restorations. They have sponsored a pseudo-news infomercial in Colorado.
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Biomet 3i have developed a protocol and set of surgical instruments for use with their implants in CT guided surgery. The Navigator System utilizes a surgical plan devised from CT images using Materialises`s Simplant Technology and a combination of specially designed surgical and laboratory drills and instruments to allow template-based implant positioning and immediate restoration if so desired.
ZikonZahn have developed the Zirkograph, a copy-milling unit, that is a manually operated machine for the manufacture of crown & bridge frameworks. An analog model is scanned using a stylus and enlarged by the panthographic principle when milling frameworks out of zirconia blanks. The Zirkograph 025 ECO can mill single abutments to 14 unit bridges or occlusal screwed bridges.
Denture cleaners like Polident and Fixodent have caused serious and sometimes fatal reactions in some people. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Monday that one person died and at least 72 others were sickened as a result of allergic reactions to denture cleaners. In some cases, the reactions were a result of product misuse. The FDA report blamed a bleach called persulfate, an allergen used in most denture cleansers. Persulfates are used in these products as part of the cleaning and bleaching process. The FDA is urging doctors and patients to be aware of the symptoms of an allergic reaction and to only use the cleansers as directed. The person who died and some of those who were sickened misused the cleaners, the FDA said. "Some patients have gargled or swallowed it, resulting in abdominal pain, vomiting, seizure, hypotension and difficulty breathing," it said. Meanwhile, some who reported allergic reactions used the cleaners properly, the FDA said.
Dr Christopher Lie of the Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton, England performed a sight restoring procedure called Osteo Odonto Kerato Prosthesis (OOKP) which involves fitting a living canine tooth with an optical cylinder and transplanting it into the eye cavity, restoring a blind Irishman`s sight. The procedure involves removing a canine tooth, a part of the adjacent bone and related ligaments from a patient. It is attached in the first stage to the cheek area to develop a blood supply and is allowed to heal for several months.
Later the tooth complex is removed from the cheek area and placed within the eye, attaching a corneal replacement implant. Bob McNichol, 57, from County Mayo in the western part of Ireland was blinded by a freak accident explosion involving melted aluminum at a recycling business two years ago received the tooth from his son Robert, 23.
Swiss company Nobel Biocare bought Israeli dental implant startup Alpha Bio for $95 million. Alpha Bio Implant was a one-man show: Dr. Ophir Fromovich, CEO, owner and dentist to the stars, not that he`ll say who his clients are. Fromovich founded Alpha Bio Implant in 1988. Alpha Bio created a new type of implant, the first generation of what became called the NobelActive, the implant with the novel thread pattern. The device Web site explains that it does not "cut through bone like conventional implants," it presses through it like a corkscrew. Patients with old-type implants had to wait three to six months for the traumatized jawbone to stabilize before the crown could be "loaded". Also, these old implants could cause bone erosion and lead the gums to recede, which is unsightly. The new one does none of that, says Fromovich. It even suits "soft bone" situations, and causes very little injury to the bone tissue. Also, in most cases, the crown can be loaded on immediately, which is the ultimate victory for the inventors: No need to wait for months to see the patient`s white smile.
Swiss Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have developed a novel method for producing dark-field x-ray images at wavelengths used in typical medical and industrial imaging equipment. Dark-field images provide more detail than ordinary x-ray radiographs and could be used to diagnose the onset of osteoporosis, breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike traditional x-ray images, which show a simple absorption contrast, dark-field images capture the scattering of the radiation within the material itself, exposing subtle inner changes in bone, soft tissue, or alloys. The overall clarity of the images is striking. The improved sensitivity in measuring bone density and hairline fractures could help diagnose the onset of osteoporosis.
BlueSkyBio have released their design of a Nobel Replace Clone. It features an ActivFluor surface treatment for enhanced osseointegration and is compatible with NobelReplace drills, prosthetics and laboratory components. Their design also features increased fracture resistance at over 100Ncm and enhanced apical threads for greater primary stability. Their implants are about 1/3 of the price of Nobel`s Replace and include a cover screw and 3mm healing abutment.
Researchers at the Regea Institute of Regenerative Medicine, part of the University of Tampere, Finland have successfully replaced a 65-year-old patient`s upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isolated from his own fatty tissue and grown inside his abdomen. Stem cells were isolated from the patient`s fat and grew for two weeks in a specially formulated nutritious soup that included the patient`s own blood serum. When they had enough cells to work with, they attached them to a scaffold made out of a calcium phosphate biomaterial and then put it inside the patient`s abdomen to grow for nine months. The cells turned into a variety of tissues and even produced blood vessels, the researchers said. The block was later transplanted into the patient`s head and connected to the skull bone using screws and microsurgery to connect arteries and veins to the vessels of the neck. The patient`s upper jaw had previously been removed due to a benign tumor and he was unable to eat or speak without the use of a removable prosthesis.
Aspiring Mexican dentists are moving to border cities in droves and are luring American patients away from farther flung discount destinations such as Hungary and Thailand. A dental crown in the United States costs upward of $600 per tooth, compared to $190 or less in Mexico. Americans have long crossed the border for cheap medicines, flu vaccines, eye surgery or specialist doctors, but dentists are now in highest demand. "We`ve gone from a handful of patients when we started 2-1/2 years ago to 150 new patients a month," said Joe Andel, an American who owns the Rio Dental clinic in Ciudad Juarez with his Mexican dentist wife, Jessica. Rio Dental, which uses U.S. labs to make its crowns, picks patients up at the airport in El Paso, Texas, across the border and has treated people from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. "The Internet makes this possible. It allows patients to find us and research us and shows we can do dental work of equal or superior quality to the United States," Andel said.
Internet bloggers swap stories and compare notes about Mexican dentists, but it always comes down to money.
Three years after patients were given Nobel Direct dental implants, the risk of the implant loosening has increased even more. A follow-up by researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy shows that eight per cent of the implants are lost. "We have followed up 48 patients who were among the first to get the implant. For each passing year, we have been able to see how the problems related to these implants have grown more and more,” observes Pär-Olov Östman, a dentist who will be presented the study tomorrow at the defense of his dissertation.
After one year, about five per cent of the implants had been lost, and 20 per cent of the remaining implants showed bone loss of more than three millimeters. The new report indicates that after three years, eight per cent of the implants had been lost, and 25 per cent of the remaining implants showed bone loss of more than three millimeters. “We believe that the problems related to Nobel Direct result both from the design of the implant and an uneven surface against the soft tissue in combination with the method of treatment recommended by the company,” according to Professor Lars Sennerby.
Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston can identify and quantify specific protein markers in human saliva to provide an early, non-invasive diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a study published in today’s issue of the journal Cancer Investigation. “Why not the dentist?” said lead researcher Charles Streckfus, D.D.S., . “Most folks, especially women and children, visit the dental office way more often than they ever see the physician. Saliva is a non-invasive, quicker way for detection.” Streckfus and his team compared the levels of expression of proteins in the saliva of patients with either malignant or benign tumors to saliva from normal controls to find those that are abnormally expressed in the diseased state. Patients’ proteins that are significantly higher or lower than the norm were considered biomarker candidates. Streckfus and his collaborators are continuing to pursue salivary diagnostics for other types of cancer, such as ovarian, endometrial, cervical and head and neck cancers.
ImplantVision have added to their implant-centered patient education system `PatientVu` by releasing it in 12 languages. The available languages are: Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Russian and Polish.
Researchers at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan has published a paper in Nanotechnology demonstrating the use of gold nanoparticles in occluding dental tubules. Researchers have found that sensitive teeth have an increased number of dentinal tubules (35.6% compared to 9.3%) and are wider in diameter (0.83 µm compared to 0.43 µm) than the dentinal tubules of non sensitive dentine. The Chinese researchers have demonstrated that this tubules can be blocked with the aid of gold nanoparticles.
An interesting aspect of gold at the nanoscale is that gold nanoparticles exhibit a clear size-dependent trend: the smaller gold nanoparticles get, the lower is their melting point. This deviation of the melting temperature from the bulk value becomes dramatic at a size around 5 nm in diameter, ultimately reaching well under 50% of the bulk melting point of gold.One of the methods of closing sub-micron sized dentinal tubules explored by Dr. Chris Wang and his team involved the sintering of highly concentrated gold nanoparticles that were brushed into the exposed open ends of dentinal tubules. Laser irradiation induced the photofusion of gold nanoparticles via photothermal conversion.
Creative Marketing and Merchandising Media Solutions (c3ms), a provider of digital signage networks, recently announced the launch of the NobelVision Network throughout North America. The NobelVision Network is a customized channel of dental healthcare information specifically designed to educate the patients of Nobel Biocare`s customers on their dental options by delivering quality educational, informational and entertainment segments via an IP-based, networked narrowcast system. Presented on large flat-panel screens installed in dental offices, the NobelVision Network provides a unique opportunity for advertisers and content partners to market their products and services to a targeted, health conscious audience with known demographic and statistical data.
With the growing population of patients who actively research their own healthcare options, having fresh, up-to-the minute information that`s pertinent to their needs makes the wait in the dentist`s office a more productive experience," said Kevin Mosher, Vice President & General Manager, Nobel Biocare North America. "For dentists, it`s always better to have educated patients, particularly when they become knowledgeable about additional services that may be of benefit to them. The NobelVision Network represents a strategic vehicle to deliver timely and relevant information in an appropriate setting for the benefit of both parties." Implementation of this private promotional and advertising network is currently underway and will be installed in 200 dental offices using Nobel Biocare products by the end of 2007
JDentalcare have released a one-piece implant designed for immediate function. The aggressive threading features a very deep coil depth designed to provide increased primary stability even in soft bone. Additionally each thread features a series of little steps on the inside of the thread. These steps increase the bone to implant contact area by 15%. The available implant diameters range from 3-5mm and range in length from 10 to 18mm.
Regeneration technologies have started to manufacture bone screws from bovine metatarsals. These are used in reconstructive surgery such as repairing the torn anterior cruciate ligament that plagues many athletes. The bone is obtained from specially bread cows at the Pranther Ranch. Prather Ranch "allows us the opportunity to satisfy many concerns about sourcing bovine materials because of the way they do their business," said Carrie Hartill, chief scientific officer at Regeneration. "They are the largest closed herd and safeguarded with proper health and animal husbandry."
In addition to the special precautions Rickert takes in breeding his cattle, the cow bones need special preparation before they can be used in human surgery. Regeneration and other companies use cleaning techniques (Regeneration`s proprietary version is called BioCleanse) to ensure that no living material remains on the bone. That cuts down on the risk of disease transmission and prevents antigenicity, which happens when the body`s immune system attacks a foreign substance.With clean bones, the work of turning bone into bone screw can begin. "The first thing we do is shape into rough-hewn shapes around the size and specification you might need," Hartill said. "Then you do the fine machining. It`s actually a screw and it has a thread, so we use identical (cutting and milling) equipment to the titanium-screw manufacturers."
The selling point for using bovine biological materials is that the body responds to it as it would human tissue, absorbing it into the body.
"It eventually remodels into the host bone from six to 12 months" after surgery, Hartill said. "We have instances where surgeons have had to go in to do a repeat surgery and they haven`t been able to find the bovine bone anymore."
Drs. Marx et al. of the University of Miami have published a comprehensive paper on `Risk factors, Prediction of Risk using Serum CTX Testing, Prevention and Treatment` of Oral Bisphosphonate-Induced Osteonecrosis in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (pages 2397-2410). It gives specific guidelines to help to assess the risk of BRONJ and a suggested course of treatment should the condition develop in one of your patients.
The Philips `Brilliance` CT scanner was unveiled at the Radiological Society of North America. The new 256-slice CT machine takes large numbers of X-ray pictures, and combines them using computer technology to produce the final detailed images.
It also generates images in a fraction of the time of other scanners: a full body scan takes less than a minute. This scanner allows radiologists to produce high quality images and is also designed to reduce patients` exposure to X-rays," Steve Rusckowski, chief executive of Philips Medical Systems, said. "It is so powerful it can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats." "This is a quantum shift from the first CT scanners as it gives a lot more detail," says Dr Keith Prowse, Chairman of the British Lung Foundation.
A new study in the October issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP) found that an adhesive made from an enzyme found in snake venom was a more effective and beneficial adhesive when used to close surgical incisions than traditional sutures. The study followed 15 patients during the healing process after a gingival (gum) graft. When the adhesive derived from snake venom was used, those patients had faster recovery and better results than those treated with traditional sutures. `This unique type of adhesive may stimulate faster tissue repair. It is a more natural form of adhesive in comparison to traditional sutures used after surgery,` explained study author Monica Barbosa, Phd, Bauru Dental School at the University of Sao Paulo, `More studies are needed to fully evaluate the effectiveness of this alternative.`
`This adhesive may be a less infectious alternative to traditional sutures,` said Preston D. Miller, DDS, and AAP president. `This research highlights the array of therapies available for patients; both traditional and natural alternatives. There continues to be a lot of exciting and innovative research in the field of periodontics.`
A New England Journal of Medicine article found that the number of CT Scans most people are exposed to had risen dramatically in the past 27 years. In 1980, doctors ordered an average of 3 million scans per year in the United States. Now, about 62 million CT Scans are done each year in this country. The rise in CT Scans can be attributed, in part, to an increase in `defensive` medicine. This occurs, for example, when people who are admitted to an emergency room are routinely given a CT Scan even before receiving a diagnosis or being seen by doctor. Controversial uses of CT Scans for whole-body scanning, virtual colonoscopy and lung cancer screening have also made CT Scans more prevalent.
The dose of radiation received by patients subject to a CT Scan can be 50 to 100 times larger than that of a traditional x-ray. That is exactly where the problem of CT Scan overuse lies. The type of radiation used in CT Scans, ionizing radiation, has the capacity to damage DNA, causing cells to mutate. This in turn leads to cancer. While the risk of one CT Scan to an individual is small, the study`s authors wrote that they are concerned about the built-up risk of frequent CT Scans over time. In a few decades, as many as 2% of all cancers in the United States might be caused by radiation from CT scans given now.
BioMeDevice Ltd. today announced that it has received FDA approval to market the new and innovative gumEase Cryo-Anesthetic dental mouthpiece to US dental practitioners and over the counter across the United States. The easy-to-use, disposable device is a breakthrough in pain management. Inserted into the sulci above and below the upper and lower gums, the latex-free device delivers anesthetic pain relief to the maxillofacial nerves, quickly diminishing pain. In patient testing the new gumEase diminished pain by 90% in 3 to 4 minutes for the average participant.The gumEase is a sterile device made of biocompatible ThermoPlastic Elastomer (TPE) containing a saline solution. A `standalone` device, gumEase is not connected or supported by any other means. The device is chilled in a temperature controlled freezer, and as soon as the device is placed in the proper sulci of the mouth, the cooling transfer begins - with a surprisingly powerful effect on patient pain relief. Possible side effects associated with the use of gumEase is the potentiality that the cryotherapy will not have a totally and comprehensive disruption of oral pain.
META Advanced Medical Technology have designed a osteotome based sinus lift system that accomplishes a controlled crestal osteotomy and the lifting of a cortical operculum which adheres to the sinus membrane in a safe manner, without damaging tissue. The SinCrest drills are equipped with depth stops that allow obtaining a guiding hole in the alveolar bone as close as possible to the maxillary sinus membrane. The innovative SinCrest manual osteotome was designed to obtain the controlled fracture of the bone floor through a 0.5 mm step-by-step progress. The probe included in the SinCrest osteotome allows the constant monitoring of the residual resistance of the maxillary sinus and its lifting without leading to the perforation of the sinus membrane. The SinCrest technique may be used in case of a residual bone availability ranging from 5 to 11 mm and in any sufficient anatomic condition to stabilise the osteotome in the implant site.
Over the course of evolution mussels have developed a special glue that not only works under water, but is also a particularly firm and lasting bonding agent. The strength of the bond is due to a particular protein.
Dr. Klaus Rischka, a chemist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research IFAM in Bremen and his partners at Frankfurt University Hospital, the Center of Biotechnical Engineering BitZ at Darmstadt University of Technology, the State Materials Testing Institute MPA and the implant manufacturer Straumann in Freiburg will initially demonstrate the glue`s suitability on the basis of a dental implant made of titanium.
It is current practice to anchor tooth implants in the jaw bone without an adhesive. This often leaves gaps between the gums and the metal, allowing bacteria to enter and cause infections. A glue that firmly connects the gums to the implant would serve as an effective barrier against aggressive germs.
Conventional products are not suited to such a purpose, however, as they would sooner or later dissolve in the moist environment inside the mouth.
The use of this substance in medical applications requires an additional ingredient: a growth protein, which can likewise be synthetically produced using the classic technique of solid-phase peptide synthesis. Its purpose is to stimulate cell growth so that the body`s own tissue -in this case the gums - bonds as closely as possible with the implant.
A novel implant based solution for stimulating interdental/interimplant papilla was recently granted a US Patent. The solution involves the placement of a small tack between the implants, which acts as a scaffold for papilla formation.
Materialise has filed a US lawsuit against Nobel Biocare for patent infringement. Materialise contends that Nobel Biocare’s manufacture of “NobelGuide” drilling template violates a Materialise U.S. patent that was issued in 1998 relating to Materialise’s “SurgiGuide” techniques. The lawsuit in the U.S. is effectively an extension of a similar action in Europe where this past August the District Court of Dusseldorf ordered Nobel Biocare AB and Nobel Biocare Deutschland GmbH to stop offering the NobelGuide drilling templates in Germany, finding that they infringed Materialise’s analogous European Patent. This decision is subject to an appeal of Nobel Biocare pending at the Düsseldorf Court of Appeals. Materialise’s U.S. lawsuit is also a response to a recent Nobel Biocare civil action (also filed in the Central District Court of California) that seeks declaratory judgments that Materialise’s U.S. patent is both not infringed by Nobel Biocare’s products and is invalid. Bart Swaelens, CEO of Materialise Dental, said: "With this lawsuit, we are protecting our technology. Our “SimPlant” software was launched in 1991, and was followed by our “SurgiGuide” drill guides in 1999. The introduction of NobelGuide by Nobel Biocare, on the other hand, did not occur until 2005. "
The ITI (International Team for Implantology) has released their second hardcover treatment guide. Volume 2 of the ITI Treatment Guide deals with the clinical aspects of various treatment protocols in the anterior and posterior regions for both single- and multi-tooth gaps as well as for free-end situations. Besides an analysis of recent literature on the topic of “Loading protocols in implant dentistry”, volume 2 of the ITI Treatment Guide provides the practitioner with a framework for risk analysis and subsequent implant treatment planning for partially dentate patients. Volume 2 was officially launched at the 2007 EAO Congress in Barcelona.
Innovative Implant Technology has released their new system for performing internal sinus lifts. The one-time use kit includes a sinu-drill and 2 flexible plastic curette for elevating the sinus. The sinu-drill design features 2 colored knobs to allow controlled removal of the sub-antral bone without perforating the sinus membrane. The website has an excellent animated technique movie.
French dental implant manufacturer TBR Group has received the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award for their hybrid Zirconia-Titanium dental implant previously profiled on OsseoTech.com.
JDentalCare has designed and developed JDTorque® ,a torque wrench for surgical and prosthetic use. It is a universal wrench and it can be used as a torque wrench or as a traditional ratchet for every implant system with the appropriate adapter. The high mechanical resistance along with the great elasticity of the plastic material PEEK allows it to measure torque up to 80 Ncm. This material is extremely light compared with metals and can undergo thousands sterilization cycles at temperatures up to 134°C without changing its mechanical characteristic. The torque wrench doesn`t require any mounting or dismounting saving maintenance time.
Imadent was issued a US Patent for its ultrasonic jaw imaging system. The system includes a specially configured ultrasonic probe, a position locator module for defining the probe location and transmitting the definition to a computer which re-assembles the image. Imadent is one of the first companies that has been able to use ultrasound technologies to create high-resolution, cross-sectional images of hard tissues such as bone. The company’s technology allows for real-time imaging of a patient’s jaw during dental surgery, increasing the safety and efficacy and lowering the cost of dental implantation and other dental surgical procedures. “Imadent’s technology uses ultrasound, a harmless imaging technology, to image hard tissues such as bones, and that is a major breakthrough,” said BioEnterprise Corporation President Matt Jennings. “The proper placement of dental implants is critical as misplacement can cause permanent nerve or sinus damage. Imadent’s technology can significantly lessen the possibility of such damage, making the procedure safer, more affordable, and thus more attractive to both patients and clinicians.”
Morgan Advanced Ceramics have developed a method for injection moulding of zirconia abutments. At its injection moulding facility at Stourport in the UK, Morgan Advanced Ceramics is able to produce the highly complex geometries required for custom-designed dental abutments. It can produce these, and their associated retaining and jawbone screws, accurately, in volume and with a high degree of repeatability. Paul Manison, Project Manager, Morgan Advanced Ceramics explains: "The dental implant market is growing fast. We are working with a number of customers in this sector to help them achieve new, complex designs cost-effectively. Manufacturing tolerances on these CIM parts are typically in the range ¡Ó0.3% and we are producing large volumes - typically upwards of 2,000 pieces - faster, more cost-effectively and with better repeatability than could ever be achieved using CNC-machining."
Clear Choice Dental Implant centers provide one stop implant services: CT-Scan, surgery and restorations. They exclusively use one manufacturer`s products and protocols, in this case Nobel Biocare. Two Centers are open so far in Austin TX and Denver CO, with ten more centers planned to open across North America.
Dentak have released an innovative combination trephine/bonemill/delivery system for harvesting and delivering autogenous bone. The trephines which come in a variety of sizes from 3.2mm to 6.2mm feature a drill blade inside the trephine which mills the bone as it is removed by the trephine. The whole trephine is then placed in a handle for delivery to the recipient site.
Satelec have released their new `ImplantCenter`, which features both a micromotor with very high torque (120 n/cm max) as well as 2 piezoelectric handpieces. The `Piezotome` handpiece is used to perform piezoelectric-based surgery while the `Newtron` is a piezon scaling and maintenance handpiece. It also features 2 peristaltic pumps for simultaneous use of both types of handpieces.
The Swedish medical technology company Astra Tech AB is purchasing the US dental company Atlantis Components Inc. for USD 71 million in cash. This business deal is part of Astra Tech’s growth strategy. “The purchase of Atlantis gives us an even stronger product portfolio in the field of dental implants. We strengthen our position in the North American market and can introduce the latest digital CAD/CAM technology in Europe. This also gives us a leading position in the fastest growing segment in the field of implants,” says Astra Tech’s President and CEO, Peter Selley. “Our objective is to be one of the three largest dental implant companies within the next three years,” Peter Selley continues.
Nobel Biocare has released a one-piece implant design `NobelOverdenture` for use in edentulous situations. It features narrow diameter and one piece for ease of handling. It promises to deliver a cost-effective option to secure dentures.
A team of Brown University engineers, led by Thomas Webster, has discovered a new material that could significantly increase osseointegration success rate. Osteoblasts grow faster and produce more calcium on anodized titanium covered in carbon nanotubes compared with plain anodized titanium and the non-anodized version currently used in orthopaedic implants. The work, published in Nanotechnology, uncovers a new material that can be used to make more successful implants. The research also shows tantalizing promise for an all-new device: a “smart” implant that can sense and report on bone growth
Straumann has released their new implant - the `bone level` implant. It features the SLActive surface all the way up to the top of the implant. The abutments are anatomically shaped and feature a `platform-switching` concept. It appears that this design is a response to concerns regarding esthetics and recession with implants in the esthetic zone. Straumann reports that `Intermediate data from the first clinical study show excellent esthetic results with regard to both hard and soft tissues indicating a low risk for recession and no esthetic complications.` The BLI implant is available in a limited market release in the US.
The new method exploits a membrane-spanning protein called TRPV1, which is unique to pain-sensing neurons. TRPV1 forms a large channel, where molecules can enter and exit the cell. But a “gate” typically blocks this opening. The gate opens when cells are exposed to heat or the chili-pepper ingredient capsaicin. Thus, bathing pain-sensing neurons in capsaicin leaves these channels open, but non-pain sensing neurons are unaffected because they do not possess TRPV1.
“We’re optimistic that this method will eventually be applied to humans and change our experience during procedures ranging from knee surgery to tooth extractions,” adds Professor Clifford Woolf of Massachusetts General Hospital, who is senior author on the study
Despite enormous investments by industry, surgical pain management has changed little since the first successful demonstration of ether general anesthesia at MGH in 1846. General and local anesthetics work by interfering with the excitability of all neurons, not just pain-sensing ones. Thus, these drugs produce dramatic side effects, such as loss of consciousness in the case of general anesthetics or temporary paralysis for local anesthetics.
“We’re offering a targeted approach to pain management that avoids these problems,” says Woolf.
“Eventually this method could completely transform surgical and post-surgical analgesia, allowing patients to remain fully alert without experiencing pain or paralysis,” says Woolf.
Implant Logic Systems is a service which both plans implant positioning and manufactures a custom surgical drill guide to place the implants according to the treatment plan. They use both `Simplant` and a custom software package, VIP, to plan the implant position using CT-Scan data. Their Pilot Compu-Guide Drill Kit is used to ensure accurate osteotomy positioning using the custom designed drill guide and sleeves.
Posted by:Editor
on Wednesday September 19th, 2007
A Washington State disciplinary board has fined a Lynnwood dentist $10,000, suspended his license at least through the end of the year and ordered him to take 41 hours of continuing education courses. The case involved a patient treated between June 2004 and November 2006 who needed nine dental implants. In its order, the commission found that the dentist failed to adequately examine, assess, evaluate, diagnose or develop a treatment plan for the patient.
He did not adequately check out the patient`s complaints of severe pain during eight follow up visits after the surgery. One of implants had either been installed in or had migrated into the patient`s sinus cavity, the commission found. No X-rays were taken for six months following the surgery, according to the disciplinary board. The dentist also prescribed more than 3,148 tablets of two narcotics for pain, Oxycodone and Percocet, during a 29-month period ending in November 2006. The commission said that he did not document the reasons for prescribing the high levels of narcotics, calling it extremely excessive.
The commission officially suspended his license for seven years. However, the suspension could be put on hold after Jan. 1 if he meets the continuing education, mentoring and other requirements specified in the order.
The dentist`s attorney has requested reconsideration of one part of the order, which prevents him from doing surgical implant procedures.
Professor Markus Buehler of MIT`s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has revealed for the first time the role of bone`s atomistic structure in a toughening mechanism that incorporates two theories previously proposed by researchers eager to understand the secret behind the material`s lightweight strength. He studied the molecular structure of the mineralized collagen fibrils that make up level 2 bone, hoping to find the mechanism behind bone`s strength, which is considerable for such a lightweight, porous material. When pressure is applied to the fabric-like fibrils, some of the weak bonds between the collagen molecules and crystals break, creating small gaps or stretched areas in the fibrils. This stretching spreads the pressure over a broader area, and in effect, protects other, stronger bonds within the collagen molecule itself, which might break outright if all the pressure were focused on them. The stretching also lets the tiny crystals shift position in response to the force, rather than shatter, which would be the likely response of a larger crystal.
The left side of Lincoln`s face was much smaller than the right, an aberration called cranial facial microsomia. The defect joins a long list of ailments - including smallpox, heart illness and depression - that modern doctors have diagnosed in Lincoln. Laser scans of two life masks, made from plaster casts of Lincoln`s face, reveal the 16th president`s unusual degree of facial asymmetry. The scanning technique is usually used to create 3-D images of children with cleft lip and palate before and after surgery. Dr. Ronald Fishman, who led the study published in the August issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology teamed up with Dr. Adriana Da Silveira, an Austin, Texas, orthodontist who specializes in children with facial defects, to scan a bronze and a plaster copy of two life masks, owned by the Chicago History Museum.
Tissue Engineering Researchers at the University of Tokyo Hospital and venture company Next 21 are using 3D inkjet printers to produce tailor-made artificial bones for use in facial reconstructive surgery. To make an artificial bone with this technology, a 3D computer model of the bone is first created based on the patient’s X-ray and CT scan data. The computer model is then sliced into a large number of cross-sections and the data is sent to a special 3D inkjet printer, which works like an ordinary inkjet printer by transferring tiny droplets of liquid onto a surface. However, unlike ordinary printers that print on paper, this one prints onto thin layers of powdered alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP). The “ink” is a water-based polymer adhesive that hardens the alpha-TCP it comes into contact with. By repeatedly laying down the powder and printing successive layers on top of one another, the printer is able to physically reproduce the desired bone to an accuracy of one millimeter
Straumann has released a set of drill stops for use with their single-use implant drills. The color coded drill stops come in a kit designed for a specific depth e.g 8mm. The small size of the drill stops offer an optimum view of the treatment area and openings on the drill stops facilitate irrigation and removal of bone chips.
Drillstops.com has released a series of drill stops designed for use with the Straumann and compatible systems. They also have an adjustable depth guide which features analogs of the narrow, standard and wide neck implant platforms allowing for a more accurate visualization of the position of the implant neck.
The gauge has been renamed `Verban Depth Gauge` after its inventor Dr. Emil Verban.
Nobel Biocare`s CEO Heliane Canepa has been replaced. Domenico Scala has been named its new chief executive, replacing Heliane Canepa, as of Sept 1, 2007. Nobel Biocare Chairman, Rolf Soiron, explained the decision to replace Canepa by saying: `An international company of this size should not be so greatly identified with a single person as has been the case at Nobel Biocare`. Swiss Sunday paper, SonntagsZeitung, reported Heliane Canepa has come under fire over allegations that the Swedish-Swiss dental implant maker has issued misleading statements regarding the safety of its NobelDirect and NobelPerfect implants.
Canepa said once she leaves the company, she will pursue undertakings of her own.
France`s Anthrogyr has released a new implant handpiece. The `Montblanc` handpiece features a very high torque maximum rating of 80ncm and includes a handy adjustable drip stop that provides additional safety during implant bed preparation. The handpiece is distributed by Aseptico in the USA.
Ziterion of Germany has released a new one-piece implant design `Zit-Implants` that feature exactly the same implant design but are made from either Titanium or Zirconium. The surgical protocol is identical for both implants and allows the surgeon to decide on the material to be used for the implants at the time of implant placement.
Ingenious Dentistry LLC has released a radiographic marker that features one or three precision stainless steel ball bearings sized at 5mm. These are placed at the time radiographs are taken and used to calibrate the resulting radiographic image. Their site features some good tips and explains how to calculate the actual size of the object of interest in the calibrated xray.
Implantvision has released both a PC-based and web-based version of their patient education solution, Patient-VU. This application is specifically geared towards implantology practice. These products feature narrated videos and animation to demonstrate various common implantology-related concepts to patients.
This Swedish company has designed an implant system based on generic implant concepts, but incorporates an efficient packaging system and a web-based reorder/inventory system. Their `White Book` makes for interesting reading.
Bredent Medical of Germany have designed an implant system which allows the use of either a titanium or a zirconium implant. The surgical instruments are the same in either case. Their zirconium based `White-Sky` implant is made from `brezirkon` and is of the one-piece implant and abutment design. The implants come in 3.5mm, 4mm and 4.5 mm diameters with lengths from 8-12mm.
UK Researchers have developed a robotic system that mimics human biting and chewing. The `Dento-Munch` system will be used to test dental materials for wear and tear. It is seen as a less expensive and less time-consuming alternative to clinical trials. The robot that can reproduce the full movement of the human jaw. Two platforms act as the upper and lower jaws, with the lower jaw capable of moving in 6 degrees of freedom. Just like the human jaw, it can move and rotate around each 3D axis: up and down, forwards and backwards, and left and right. The software controlling the motors and gearboxes inside `Dento-Munch` are also designed to respond to loads in a similar way to muscles and tendons.
The Swedish Medical Products Agency(SMPA) released a demand for Nobel Biocare to improve the instructions for both its NobelDirect and NobelPerfect implants. Previously Nobel Biocare had released a response to the recent marketing ban on their NobelDirect implant following reports that it lost an excessive amount of bone following placement. The SMPA stood by its decision that the firm not be allowed to market the implants until it had carried out the improvement of the instructions. The SMPA stated that the instructional information must be supplemented and further clarified. As an example, the SMPA described Nobel Biocare`s instruction statement: “you don´t have to be a specialist to prepare the site for NobelDirect” as `inappropriate`.
Zimmer Dental has released a one-piece implant design. It features a straight and angled version with the abutment integrated into the implant. The abutments are asymmetrically contoured and intended for immediate restoration protocols. The implants come in 3mm, 3.7mm and 4.7 mm diameters.
Nobel Biocare released another implant design called `NobelActive` at their world conference in Las Vegas. This design features
a new thread pattern. They claim that: `The one-stage implant features a unique shape and a new thread design with a "self-drilling" capability to facilitate drilling protocols in areas of narrower osteotomy. The product is easy to use and provides high initial stability and good outcomes. NobelActive(tm) has been designed for increased soft tissue volume at the head of the implant, resulting in improved esthetics.`
The continuing FDA ban on importation of Biora`s Emdogain and Bone Substitute has cost parent company Straumann 10 million Swiss francs (8.14 million US$). Straumann chief executive Gilbert Achermann described the loss as `painful`. He furthermore stated that `The US FDA will reinspect our facility in Malmo, but we are not in a position to say when this will happen, If all goes well`, Biora products `could be reintroduced in the US in the first quarter of this year,` Additionally, `According to Achermann, the resumption of the company`s exports to the US depends on the results of an ongoing investigation by US authorities which could last several months.`
Swiss implant manufacturer Nobel Biocare has signed an exclusive agreement with Wyeth Pharmaceutical manufacturer of Bone Morphogenic Protein rhBMP-2. They claim that: `TiUnite(r) will serve as the foundation for the next generation of dental implants with the potential of eliminating the need to graft and use of membranes. Nobel Biocare is currently in clinical testing of an implant designed to create its own bone. This implant will be treated with a bone morphogenetic protein rhBMP-2 (a recombinant version of a naturally occurring human protein).` and furthermore they claim: `it will drastically change the indications for dental implants. Patients that currently do not qualify for implants will now be able to be treated.`.
Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant has taken a 10% stake in Swiss dental implant manufacturer Thommen Medical. According to a press release, Novartis`s stake will rise to 20% later in the summer. Andreas Stutz, Thommen Medical CEO says: “Novartis is a strategic partner for us. This opens completely new possibilities in the area of research. The understanding of soft-tissue and bone biology becomes more and more important for the producers of dental implants. Furthermore, we see the interest of Novartis in Thommen Medical as a confirmation of the work we have achieved over the past years.”
Materialise`s soon to be released Simplant 11 will feature realistic renderings of stock implant abutments. This will allow implantologists to choose realistic stock implant abutments based upon shape, tissue cuff height, diameter and purpose prior to the placement of the actual implants.
Straumann has updated their wide diameter implant twist drill design with a rounded apical profile ending in a flat tip to allow for more accurate osteotomy preparation. They claim that `the rounded flat-end tip facilitates safe drill positioning and ensures secure drill centering in the implant bed. The defined direction is maintained throughout the entire drilling process.`
Nobel Biocare has released a response to the recent marketing ban in their NobelDirect implant following reports that it lost an excessive amount of bone following placement. The response called the initial report to the Swedish Medical Products Agency (SMPA) on NobelDirect by Dr Albrektsson as `... incomplete and reported in an unscientific way. The analysis of the present manuscript shows that the material still suffers from intransparency and lack of scientific stringency. The process for peer-review may even be questioned.`
Trinon has designed a series of extremely short, but wide implants designed for use in areas of limited alveolar height. This design is appropriate for severely atrophied, but wide lower and upper jaw architectures. Insertion is via trephine use and are very appropriate for internal sinus lift use. The implants range in size from 4mm to 7mm in height.
GoldenMisch has developed a set of extraction forceps. Its design delivers a powerful mechanical advantage by employing an efficient first-class lever. The forceps feature a bumper which is set low on the alveolar ridge, perpendicular to the tooth, creating a good fulcrum point. The Physicsforceps makes only one point of contact with the tooth, as opposed to conventional forceps that work like pliers. The website shows various testimonials and animation of the `rolling` extraction technique.
Astratech has released a customized version of Simplant for use with their implant system. The software program also contains 3D images of implants, abutments and teeth. This ensures efficient, accurate and reliable planning of implant positions, sizes and number of implants, and abutments to be used. In addition it provides better control over the esthetic outcome. When the case is planned, a surgical guide is ordered to make sure that the planning result will be replicated in the real surgical situation.
Straumann has been granted a US Patent on its new implant delivery mount. The much needed redesign features `keyless` removal and incorporates an innovative implant indexing system into the mount, anticipating that implant indexing will increasingly be done at the time of implant placement.
Ceraroot which makes various anatomically shaped single piece zirconium implants has released another `extraction and immediate implant` video on Google video. This one features a maxillary pre-molar.
MIS has released a specially designed diamond bur kit for use in modifying and customizing Zirconium abutments. The Zircon Diamond burr set has been designed to enable easy grinding and preparation of Zircon abutments. The set combines all burrs that are necessary for adjustment procedures and preparation of crowns and structures made of ZrO2.
Dentsply Friadent had released their next generation implant surface which features a thermal etching process called BioPoreStructuring. They claim the specific etching acid they use creates an ideal physical, chemical and biological surface needed to attract osteoblasts to the implant surface.
Dr. Gerald Niznick of Implant Direct sent a letter to the Editor of IJOMI taking issue with its recent Editorial (JOMI 2006; 21:6) that claimed a direct correlation between innovation and high prices for dental implants. Dr. Niznick`s letter analyzes the published financial statements of Nobel Biocare and Straumann showing their cost of goods at 16% to 20% with marketing expenses in excess of 40% and research costs of only 3.5% - 5% of gross revenues. The editor saw fit not to publish the letter. The Editor acknowledges that Dr. Niznick`s Letter "raised interesting issues" and "describes financial issues that the readership rarely sees." The Editor stated that JOMI "simply cannot afford to use pages for such letters," to which Dr. Niznick points out that the journal contained 34 pages of advertising, many from the same companies who benefit from high implant prices.
Zimmer`s Socket Repair Membrane is a specially shaped collagen membrane designed to assist wound healing in alveolar facial plate repair and residual ridge preservation following atraumatic, flapless single-root tooth extractions. It is pre-cut to fit single root sockets, saving the clinician time and limiting waste. The membrane contains graft material by capping the socket with the circular portion of the membrane and helps retain the post extraction buccal wall preventing the bone particles from dispersing into the tissue and preventing the migration of the epithelial cells into the site. Developed in conjunction with Dr. Dennis Tarnow at NYU to help maximize long term esthetic results and function.
A robotic smart drill developed by Aston University(UK) and clinically tested at the University Hospital Birmingham offers a more precise means of drilling. Tested in a cochlear implant procedure, the device is able to detect the approach of the drill tip as it approaches this tissue interface. It is then able to avoid penetrating the membrane, so avoiding drilling and other debris dropping into the ear. It is expected that this more precise means of drilling will lead to improved hearing for the patient following implantation. It has been tested on three human patients -- all with successful out comes. It drills a perfect hole, the perfect size, in the perfect place and to a perfect depth. The robotic smart drill is currently only being used for cochlear implants, but the potentials for wider surgery applications in the future are extensive.
Innovative Implant Technology has released an innovative kit to aid in the planning and placement of dental implants in a variety of clinical situations. It features colour-coded `measuring blades` that aid in determining the optimal implant size for a particular edentulous space. The measuring pins are used during placement to ensure optimal implant-tooth and implant-implant spacing.
The friendly takeover is Straumann`s largest to date and will position the group as a "one-stop shop" by providing solutions such as bone augmentation as well as implants and prosthetics, the firm said. "Overall it is a positive strategic move. They are copying the strategy of other major competitors, such as Nobel Biocare, by providing both implants and prosthetics," said Vontobel analyst Christoph Gubler. Straumann has struggled to match Nobel`s presence in the U.S., where fewer dentists have used implants than in Europe, making it one of the fastest-growing markets for dental implants.
Munich-based Etkon is a leader in computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), which uses computers to scan models of patients` mouths to provide customized bridges and crowns, using ceramics.
Biomet / 3i has released their upgraded surface, Nanotite. Nanotite features their previous Osseotite surface treated with discrete crystalline deposition of Calcium Phosphate (CaP) resulting in a more complex surface topography. They claim that the biologic benefits Of CaP may play a key role in enhanced site response, potentially improving clinical predictability and outcomes. - This surface is named the same as one released by Bicon a few months ago, are they the same?
Researchers from the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki and their collaborators from Berlin and Kyoto have now shown that continuous tooth generation can be induced in mammals. The research results were published in `Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,` (PNAS). The researchers activated the Wnt signaling pathway in mouse tissue; this signaling pathway is one of those used for cell communication and plays an important role in embryonic development. As a result of stimulating this particular signaling pathway, one mouse molar developed dozens of new teeth with normal dentin, tooth enamel and developing roots. The crowns were, however, simple and cone-shaped, unlike the typically more complex multiple cusps of mouse molars.
Nobel Biocare refuted criticism voiced by Swedish scientists, saying its implant product `teeth-in-an-hour` is a scientifically proven concept with high success rates.
The Swiss-Swedish implant maker said that one of its `ongoing studies with 19 patients and a total of 118 implants shows that after three years, 96.3 pct of all implants still function`.
The complete report will be available in April, it said.
The group`s statement came in reaction to a study by Sweden`s Karolinska Institute published on Saturday saying that its Teeth-in-an-Hour implant system may carry more risk of complications than conventional methods
Swiss-Swedish Nobel Biocare`s Teeth-in-an-Hour implant system may carry more risk of complications than conventional methods, an abstract of a study by Sweden`s Karolinska Institutet showed on Saturday.
The study examined 31 patients treated using the method, which uses computer modeling to reduce implant installation time and showed that complications such as the loss of fixtures and the need for adjustments arose for nearly a third.
Nine percent of the 175 fixtures examined were lost, said Bjorn Klinge, professor of periodontology at Karolinska Institutet and one of the study`s authors.
This compared with a loss rate of roughly 2 to 3 percent using conventional and more time-consuming methods, he added.
"My assessment is that this is still at the trial stage and therefore can`t be recommended for general use," Klinge told Reuters.
"Our data shows rather unequivocally that there is a lot of development left before one can say if this is a good or a bad product," he added.
The study, presented at a dental conference in Venice on Saturday, has not yet been published in a scientific journal or peer-reviewed, but Klinge said an article was being prepared.
Straumann’s academic partner, the International Team for Implantology (ITI), introduced the first Volume of the ITI Treatment Guide in cooperation with Quintessence publishing. Volume 1, entitled `Implant Therapy in the Esthetic Zone – Single-Tooth Replacements` was introduced to the professional community at the EAO’s 15th Annual Scientific Meeting in Zurich.It takes its readers through the entire process, starting with the assessment of the patient’s individual esthetic risk profile and proceeding to through ideal three-dimensional implant placement and proven prosthetic management options.
The various aspects are illustrated using patient case studies. Detailed illustrations serve to clarify any potential ambiguities. An analysis of potential complications in esthetic implant dentistry completes this first volume.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT in Germany have developed a dental prosthesis consisting of a drug-filled reservoir, a valve, two sensors and several electronic components. Saliva enters the reservoir via a membrane, dissolves part of the solid drug and flows through a small duct into the mouth cavity, where it is absorbed by the mucous membranes in the patient’s cheeks. The duct is fitted with two sensors that monitor the amount of medicine being released into the body. The patient has to have the agent refilled every few weeks.
Osteohealth`s GEM 21S is a wound healing and bone regeneration technology termed growth-factor enhanced matrix (GEM). It has recently become available for clinical use. This graft material consists of a concentrated solution of pure recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF-BB), the synthetic form of the body’s key natural wound healing stimulator PDGF-BB, and an osteoconductive (bone scaffold) matrix. This is the first available purified, recombinant (synthetic) growth factor product and is the result of over a decade of extensive research. Clinical and animal study results with this graft material demonstrate that it is capable of simultaneously promoting wound healing, regeneration of bone and acceleration of gingival attachment gain in challenging periodontal and periimplant defects.
Using stem cells harvested from the extracted wisdom teeth of young adults, researchers have successfully generated tooth root and supporting tooth ligaments to support a crown restoration in experiments using miniature pigs.
The restored tooth mirrored the original tooth in function and strength, the research team reports in the December issue of the open access medical journal PLoS ONE. The technique holds promise for use in humans, the investigators say.
Dr. Songtao Shi said: "In this study, we use stem cell technology to generate `a bio-root and periodontal tissue` along with dental clinical porcelain crown technique to restore tooth function in swine (mini-pig). Implant patients must have sufficient bone in the jaw to support the implant. For those who don`t, this therapy would be a great alternative," Shi said in a statement.
The Swedish Medical Products Agency investigation of the dental implants NobelDirect and NobelPerfect show that there can be deficiencies in the instructions for use for the products.The MPA decision directs Nobel Biocare to clearly describe possible causes for the breakdown of the jawbone in the instructions for use and training programs. In addition, the company must describe how the risk for breakdown can be avoided. In sales and promotion information and instructions for use, the company shall indicate the user qualifications and skills required so that a dentist can use the implants safely. Nobel Biocare may not actively market the dental implants until the information activities are carried out.
The MPA`s report gives an interesting insight into the basis and timeline of this investigation.
In the course of a routine inspection of Biora AB, Straumann`s oral regenerative product company in Sweden, in October 2006, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigator made a number of observations predominantly concerning maintenance of quality system documentation and procedures associated with the company`s products. Biora has received a ``warning letter`` from the FDA, which indicated that its ``dental bone grafting materials`` are on import detention in the U.S., until the inspectional observations are resolved. No other countries apart from the U.S. are affected. The products concerned are: Straumann BoneCeramic, Emdogain, and PrefGel.
Medtronic recently announced that the FDA Dental Products Advisory Panel has unanimously voted to recommend approval, with a condition the use of INFUSE® Bone Graft for certain oral and maxillofacial bone grafting procedures. INFUSE Bone Graft is recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) applied to an absorbable collagen sponge carrier. The purpose of the protein, which occurs naturally in the body, is to stimulate bone formation. It has been previously approved by the FDA for use in certain lumbar spine fusion and tibial fracture repair procedures. Implanted into a bone-deficient site, INFUSE Bone Graft works with the body’s own biology to induce normal physiologic bone formation.
DentalXP is an educational website with videos, images, protocols and articles related to implantology and cosmetic dentistry. The Salama brothers and Dr. Garber and Goldstein seem to be the principle contributors. Content is free after registering. Some cutting-edge technique videos as well as clinically-useful forms are the chief attractions.
A Merril Lynch analyst`s report on the dental implant industry has been released. Issues discussed include: the risk of increasing regulation of implant placement, image guided surgery`s growing importance, Nobel Biocare`s sales strategy and various implant company`s product launches. As always, a very interesting read.
3i has introduced their CAD/CAM precision bar milling system. This system produces a computer designed superstructure that is milled out of a solid billet of titanium alloy to ensure a passive fit. Six different types of implant systems are supported.
Sirona have received the FDA`s 510K approval for their Galileos 3D X-ray imaging system. This system uses a Cone Beam-based technology that calculates a large volume 3D image set, more than 200 exposures, in a single low-dose 3D scan of 15 seconds or less. This 3D image set is processed and presented in the new GALILEOS software, an advanced extension of Sirona’s SIDEXIS XG imaging software.
Sweden`s Medical Products Agency has made a preliminary finding that Nobel Biocare AG`s dental implant Nobel Direct, is too risky to use except with `great care`. The regulator said it will over the next few weeks come to a final view on Nobel Direct and what eventual warnings will be attached to the implant. The agency issued its statement after investigating the results of Nobel Biocare`s own two year study and said this study was not based on a representative sample, and that up to two thirds of the requisite information from the study was not included in the report it received. `Against this background, .... it is our view that implants of the Nobel Direct type should only be used with great care,` the agency said.
Meisinger has released their balloon based sinus lift system. It uses a system of precision drills and drill guides to allow the introduction of a saline-filled balloon into the sinus. This balloon is then filled to gently push the sinus up. They report up to 10mm of lift height with minimal invasiveness.
The General Dental Council (UK) convened a small working group in December 2005 to to consider what training standards would be necessary for a general dental practitioner before practising implant dentistry, to publish those standards and then periodically to review them in the light of developments in implant dentistry. Such standards could be used not only by practitioners but also by the GDC in the consideration of patient complaints against dental practitioners who, allegedly, practise implant dentistry beyond the limits of their competence. The GDC and the working group wanted to ensure patient protection by establishing and maintaining standards of training in implant dentistry.
Implant Direct LLC has received a FDA 510(K) Marketing Clearance for their Spectra System. Dr Niznick, inventor of the internal anti-rotational connection, has started his own dental implant design and manufacturing company that employs a web-based order and support model to deliver a versatile line of implants at about 50% of the price of the major manufacturers.
Astratech has released their Cresco(r) system for ensuring passive fit on screw-retained implant bridges. This system allows for up to 17 degrees of angle correction for screw-retained bridges using bendable wax tubes giving maximum flexibility in terms of being able to compensate for angled implant placement when bone quality and quantity are poor. Using a Cad-Cam-like milling machine corrects the casting distortion of prosthetic superstructures to a very high degree of precision. The majority of implant systems are supported.
MIS Implant Technologies Ltd has released a Crest Widener used to widen a narrow alveolar crest which has sufficient height for implant placement. The cortical plates are separated and the crest widener distracts the plates so that new bone is created between the plates and the attached gingiva. They have a step-by-step guide and video of the surgical technique on their website.
The University of Connecticut Health Center has received a five-year, $2.6 million grant from the US National Institutes of Health to study the relationship between osteoporosis and the success or failure of regeneration and dental implants. They plan to recruit 120 women for the study. Specifically, the study is designed to help the researchers develop a reliable estimate of the two-year success rate of bone augmentation and dental implants in women with broadly varying bone density measurements.
Preclinical results were presented recently at the EAO meeting for Straumann`s innovative hydrogel-based membrane, which confirmed the product`s efficacy and ease of handling. The first clinical trial was successfully completed in the third quarter, with each of the endpoints being met. On this basis, applications for regulatory clearance should be submitted in the current quarter. Straumann and Kuros Biosurgery, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute, ETHZ and the University of Zurich, applied for a patent on this technology in 2003.
The perils of living in New York go beyond the grave. The directors of seven funeral homes have been stripped of their licenses and face jail after pleading guilty to their role in what one US official called "the crime of the century" – whenever they got hold of a suitable corpse, they would tip off a team of illegal body harvesters led by Michael Mastromarino, a former oral surgeon who had lost his dentist`s license. Operating out of a secret room in a Brooklyn funeral home, Mastromarino would extract useful skin, organs and even bones which would be replaced with pieces of PVC piping so as to not arouse suspicion at open-casket funerals. The body of British broadcaster Alistair Cooke, of Masterpiece Theater fame, was plundered by the harvesters and paperwork altered to record his age as 85 rather than 95. The body snatchers allegedly surgically removed Mr. Cooke`s bones and sold them for more than $7,000 to a company supplying parts for use in dental implants and various orthopedic procedures.
Sweden`s Medical Product Agency (SMPA) has announced it will delay its final verdict on the safety of Nobel Biocare AB`s dental implant NobelDirect, which is alleged to cause bone-loss, until November. The agency cited a delay in the release of Nobel Biocare`s two-year follow-up study as being responsible.
Two Swedish dentists in May 2005 alleged that the product is causing bone-loss, prompting investigations by the heathcare authority.
Bicon have developed a new surface process, NanoTite™. A high-energy ion beam source aims a beam of ions at the surface of a target treated with HA. These high-energy ions eject the HA from the target/substrate and create a molecular cloud whose molecules bond with the surface of the Bicon Ti 6Al-4V ELI implant. This Ion-Beam Assisted Deposition process, which provides increased integration with the implant surface, is known as High-Energy Sputter Deposition. Using an Ion-Beam Assisted Deposition process, the titanium alloy is modified with a thin (less than 1 micrometer) amorphous calcium phosphate compound with HA-like chemistry and physical properties for enhancement of bone integration.
Ulf Wikesjö of the Medical College of Georgia has demonstrated impressive osseous regeneration around dental implants coated with recombinant human Bone Morphogenic Protein (rhBMP-2). Dr. Wikesjö is researching wound-healing and tissue regeneration with a $1.4 million grant from Nobel Biocare. In laboratory tests, rhBMP-2 applied onto implants directs endogenous stem cells to become bone-forming cells. The result was a nearly complete regeneration of lost tissue. He hopes to start clinical trials in the summer of 2006.
Famous mafia boss John Gotti, Dr Leonard Linkow and blade implants - all part of the history of implantology. An amazing story reported by the NY Daily News in 2002. Enjoy:
Around 1988, after losing several teeth, Gotti tired of dentures and had
permanent implants surgically installed and his remaining teeth capped. He visited the E. 50th St. offices of Dr. Leonard Linkow, a frank-talking New
Yorker with a shock of white hair. Linkow had been famous among dentists
worldwide since the late 1960s, when he introduced a new type of implant as an
alternative to dentures. As a show of gratitude, Gotti wanted to have a custom suit made for Linkow. The offer came via Jack (The Nose) D`Amico, one of Gotti`s closest associates. Linkow said. "I said, `No, no, I got plenty of suits, and I don`t have enough time in the world to wear the suit,`" But D`Amico insisted, repeatedly, until Linkow recognized it was an offer he couldn`t refuse.... [story continues]
IVS Solutions AG has released a 2-dimensional implant placement planner that uses panoromic and peri-apical xrays for the implantologist to design the type and position of the implant(s). The software then produces a surgical plan which lists the implants planned for placement as well as an image of the planned implant positioned on the xray.
BEGO Implant Systems GmbH & Co has designed a customizable healing abutment designed to shape the soft tissue. By customizing the PEEK blank at the chairside the emergence profile can be shaped, elliptical or even triangular, depending on the circumferential shape of the tooth that is to be replaced. It is made of a high-strength and completely biocompatible plastic abutment made of (implantable) polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK). This material is trimmed into the required shape with the handpiece at the chairside and is used in place of a conventional healing abutment to sculpt the peri-implant soft tissue emergence profile.
Brown University engineers have shown that both zinc and titanium oxide nanosurfaces can reduce the presence of bacteria. Discs with nanostructured surfaces had bumps that measured only .023 microns in diameter. Discs with microstructured surfaces had bumps that measured about 5 microns in diameter. Microstructured zinc oxide discs were host to 1,000 times more bacteria than the nanostructured zinc oxide discs. Similar, but less striking, results were duplicated on titanium oxide discs. The engineer`s hypothesis is that: `with the nanostructured surfaces we created, surface area increased by 25 to 35 percent. We think that this additional area, along with the unique surface energetics of these nanomaterials, gave bone-forming cells more places to adhere. But with bacteria, increased surface area may work the other way, exposing the bugs to more of the germ-fighting properties of the zinc oxide.`
Ceraroot have designed five ziconium-based one-stage implants for use in different areas of the mouth. The anatomically designed implants incorporate the abutment into the implant for a very esthetic result. An interesting video is posted on Google Video showing the use of a Ceraroot implant in an immmediate placement procedure.
Dental Implan Inc , has released patient education software to assist practitioners in explaining to patients what a proposed treatment plan will involve. The software was developed for Jeffrey Ganeles, a florida periodontist, to enhance and streamline patient consultations.
Merrill Lynch and UBS have released stock research reports regarding Nobel Biocare`s NobelDirect implant design. Several recent studies suggest more than 3mm of bone loss in 14-55% of patients. An expert panel advising the Swedish Medical Products Agency on the safety of the NobelDirect implant has responded to a recent Nobel Biocare rebuttal letter in a critical manner. The Merrill Lynch analyst suggests a NobelDirect withdrawal may be ahead.
Thommen Medical has redesigned their VECTOdrill™ twist drills in a high-strength, alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ). The drills` ATZ ceramic ensures efficient and consistent cutting performance throughout the life of the twist drill. The pilot drill design features a high efficiency cutting tip which initiates the pilot hole without the need for a round bur and has the ability to cut laterally to correct osteotomy location. These are similar in design to the MIS ceramic drills reported on previously.
Straumann has received a US patent for a bioactive coating for their implants. Their modified sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) surface is coated with an
Arg–Gly–Asp (RGD)-peptide-modified polymer (PLL-g-PEG/PEG–RGD). According to a study by Danny Buser, RGD-coated implants demonstrated significantly higher percentages of bone-to-implant contact as compared with controls at 2 weeks. The hypothesized mechanism is that the attachment of RGD peptides directed towards integrin receptors on the PEGylated surface promotes adhesion of cells of mesenchymal origin e.g. osteoblasts to the implant surface.
Dentaurum Inc has designed a kit for the placement of their `TOMAS` orthodontic anchors. The anchor head features
a bracket design which works as a temporary anchor (approx. 6 - 12 months) allowing for various orthodontic tooth alignments.
Posted by:Editor
on Wednesday September 13th, 2006
Meisinger`s Benex Control system is part of their `Bone Management` instrument collection. It uses a teflon coated tooth-borne ratchet system to extract the tooth root. This is a variation on the `easy-x-trac` system profiled earlier this year.
Karl Schumacher`s Proximator extraction kit consists of 7 periotome-like elevators designed to fit different aspects of the tooth. They are designed to eliminate the fibrous attachment where a periotome does not have sufficient strength.
Nobel Biocare makes mention of their new all-ceramic implant design that uses a zirconium based surface in their annual report (page 35). Clinical trials are in progress. It seems interest in Zirconium Oxide based implants is on the rise by the big companies. Definitely a trend to keep an eye on.
Osseo Scientific LLC has added a collection of low temperature osteotomy drills to their product line. They claim that the unique design allows for lower force osseous penetration and therefore less heat generation. They display an interesting temperature graph as evidence of this.
Med-3d has released a CAT-Scan based 3-D implant planner similar to many other software packages previously profiled, however they use a very unique XYZ positioning device to drill the titanium drill tube holes in the patient stent - basically a dental surveyor on steroids.
XCPT is an implant treatment planning program created by a Florida periodontist. The dental practitioner can import a patient`s radiographs (panoramic, peri-apicals) and then using the implant templates and other tools visually plan a patient`s treatment.
MIS Implant Technologies Ltd.`s Abrahmi Drill Guide Kit is a drill guide kit that allows for optimal inter-implant spacing, angulation and parallelism. The kit contains several spacers which the surgeon can select to determine the inter-implant distance. The device features several drill sleeves of different diameters which ensure parallelism of the implants.
Conebeam.com a comprehensive website devoted to the art and science of conebeam ct scanners has an excellent review of all the different implant planning and surgical guide products. An astonishing 10 different systems are available. Most of the usual vendors: Materialise, Nobel Biocare Teeth in an hour, Denx and ILS are listed, but also some new and innovative systems from smaller vendors.
MIS`s Yeung Bone Harvest kit consists of a set of four drills with a slot that allows for the accumulation of autogenous bone during osteotomy preparation. The drill size ranges are: 2.80mm, 3.20mm, 3.80mm and 4.50mm.
Materialise`s SAFE System combines drilling guidance, implant insertion guidance and depth control. Simplant is used to plan the optimal position of the implants and then this plan is transferred to the SAFE system which produces a physical guide and a surgical report to guide the surgeon during implant placement.
RoboDent`s navigation and implant placement planning software works with its Lapdoc system to give realtime visual feedback on the angle, depth and direction of implant placement. It uses 5mm titanium microspheres attached to the handpiece to track the position of the drill tip in realtime allowing the implantologist to see the depth and angle of implant placement.
A. Titan has introduced an innovative system for atraumatic extractions. This system uses a pin placed in the tooth to be extracted`s root canal and then uses a rachet to pull the tooth out of the alveolus, thereby avoiding the rotational forces usually placed on the alveolus by conventional extraction methods. By removing the tooth in an atraumatic fashion, immediate implant placement is more feasible.
Osseo Scientific has introduced an innovative autogenous bone chip collector. It features a collection cup with a bur inside the bone collection cup. As bur penetrates the bone the harvested bone chips are stored in the cup ready for immediate use. The whole assembly is autoclavable and fits a standard implant handpiece.
Stoma has introduced an innovative kit to allow for optimal implant positioning and spacing. The system consists of two sets of seating sleeves with increasing diameters, 5 fixation pins and 3 straight and angled bone spreading instruments. The seating sleeves are used to plan the optimal implant diameter for a particular surgical site. They are also useful for determing the proper interproximal spacing in areas where multiple adjacent implants are planned.
OTA`s new balloon sinus lifter allows for less traumatic hydraulic sinus lifts (internal and lateral approach) by reducing the risk of membrane tears. The micro-mini balloon inflates to 1.9mm with saline administered via a 5cc syringe. The gentle pressure on the membrane expands the sinus graft space gently without any sharp instruments.
Mectron`s piezon-electric surgery system can be used for osteotomies and osteoplasty in implantology. Additionally it can be used in periodontal, endodontic and surgical orthodontics. It`s selective cutting action allows for mimimal soft tissue damage, especially useful for opening sinus windows during lateral sinus lift procedures. This unit comes with an array of handpiece tips designed for an array of surgical procedures.
DenX`s innovative CT-image driven implant planning and placement system, `IGI`, was recently honoured with a Medical Design Excellence Award. IGI allows a virtual implant to be placed on the CT image with the assistance of advanced planning tools. During the surgical procedure, the clinician guides the implant to the precise location, angle and depth required according to the plan. Real-time localization feedback assisted by audio and visual media allows the clinician to monitor the success of the procedure and avoid critical mistakes at all times.
* This is an interesting design competitor to Tactile Tech`s ILS System as previously reported on osseotech.com
MIS has introduced a ceramic composite (Zirconium / Yttrium / Aluminium) drills in 2.0 mm, 2.1 mm and 2.8 mm diameter. They reportedly feature reduced vibration and smoother operation. One important property that Zirconium drills claim over stainless-steel drills is that they maintain their sharp edge for an extended period.
Straumann has filed a US patent application for a Peek/Titanium composite one-piece Implant. This implant design features an outer titanium shell (label 1 and 2) and an inner core made of PEEK (label 3 and 4). This designs claims the aesthetic advantage of the white-coloured PEEK at the collar and abutment with the proven osseointegration properties of titanium. This is an interesting design response to the number of zirconium collar (TBR Group) and all zirconium implant (Z-Systems) designs.
Thommen Medical has introduced their SPI MONO torque ratchet. It is manufactured from a solid billet of titanium. It has a torque range of 10Ncm to 35Ncm in 5 Ncm increments. The one-piece construction simplifies regular maintenance as there are no parts to disassemble for cleaning and no lubrication is required.
Straumann has filed a US patent application for a root-form implant with an asymmetrical shoulder. It appears similar to their current TE implant design, with the addition of a sloping shoulder configuration higher on the palatal side and lower on the facial side. This may be their design response to NobelBiocare`s Nobel Perfect implant originally patented by Dr. Wohrle.
Nobel Biocare has introduced an improvement to their Ti-Unite Surface. By placing micro grooves on the surface they claim to increase the implant stability by up to 30% thereby allowing for more rapid bone formation. This surface improvement takes a mechanical approach to increase Bone-to-Implant Contact as opposed to the chemical surface modification`s introduced by Astra (Osseospeed) and Straumann (SLAtive), their main competitors.
NSK has introduced several improved features to their implantology handpiece and motor system. The `Surgic XT Plus` features a fiber-optic handpiece to illuminate the osteotomy site and a torque calibration feature to ensure precise speed and torque during surgery.
Z-Systems has introduced a completely metal-free implant and set of surgical instruments for placement of these implants made from 95% Ziconium dioxide and 5% Yttrium tri-oxide. Zirconium is one of five metals shown to support osseointegration (the others are: Titanium, Niobium, Tantalum and Platinum). This new approach has been certified for use in Germany, but FDA clearance for use in the United States is planned. A few animal and human based studies suggest that the bone-to-implant contact percentages (a measure of the degree of osseointegration) are similar to those achieved with titanium-based implants.
Kavo has introduced an innovative implantology handpiece with a fiber-optic light. This is a part of their Intrasurg 300+ implant motor and handpiece set. It also boasts a torque measuring feature to aid in immediate placement and immediate load decision making.
B.T.I. has introduced a bone expander drill set. It uses a set of four wedge-shaped bone expanders to expand alveolar bone and condense bone in sites with low bone density. The rotary motion of either an implant handpiece or a torgue wrench is used to slowly expand the bone instead of using the more traditional osteotome/bone condenser/ridge spitter and surgical mallet combination.
MIS Implant Technologies Ltd`s new compression kit improves the treatment procedures for sinus lifting and soft bone compression. A simple bone compression procedure enables better implantation and better implant primary stability. The compression kit can be operated either manually or with a contra angle, according to the surgeon`s choice.
Straumann has introduced an improvement in their SLA implant surface. SLActive is based on the scientifically proven SLA® surface topography, but exhibits a fundamentally improved surface chemistry. Due to its ideal conditioning, the chemically active and hydrophilic SLActive surface significantly promotes the osseointegration process. Animal studies demonstrate that their new surface allows for accelerated bone remodelling during the entire osseointegration process.
T.B.R Group has introduced a unique ziconium collared implant. It features one-stage titanium implant with a zirconium trans-gingival emergence collar. They claim that the Zirconia enhances the fibroblast and osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation compared to titanium, provides for lower bacterial colonization at the collar and shows evidence of creeping attachment of the gingiva to the zirconium collar.
Tactile Tech has introduced the Implant Location System (ILS) which applies tactile sensing technology to offer intra-oral image-guided navigation specifically for dental practitioners. It is a computer-guided sensing, navigation and guiding suite for placement of dental implants designed both for the general practitioner and the expert. It provides safety and restorative accuracy without introducing the great complexity of other navigation systems.
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