Which implant system should I buy for the practice I bought?

Hello, Run the numbers for purchasing a system and getting trained. Take into account the loss of brain cells, heart muscle and stomach lining when things don't go quite right. My suggestion would be to take a good look at carrying on with your current providers of implant surgery and be satisfied with restoring them. I know it's an ego boost to say we are placing implants, but after running the numbers and estimating the number you would place, it may not be the best idea. There are a lot of ailing and failing implants walking around. No need to make a contribution. RDK

I would suggest that in order to better decide which system you will invest in, you take several courses to get some experience placing implants with several systems before purchasing one. You may find that some systems are better for some things but not others. You may also want to look at Straumann, Astra, Zimmer, Biohorizons and Implant-Direct. Good luck!

I would defenately go with Straumman or Nobel in that order and Camlog is good also.

Camlog is a Henry Schein company. I get parts next day delivery. It is a nice system. I like it because there are drill stops and since I place most implants flapless I don't have to struggle to see a line on the drill. They are expensive and parts are expensive. Easy to restore however.

I recommend Hiossen , very well known implant, their support is great.

I started using Imtek Endure implants (a terrible system in retrospect). The line was discontinued. My Imtek sales rep suggested Implant Direct. I started using their Legacy Line which is compatible with Zimmer. I think it would be worth spending an afternoon on their website before you settle on a system. Along the same line, I send patients out for CT scans. I have started using the Blue Sky Bio implant planning software. It is a free download, so you can play with it at no cost. There is nothing wrong with the Nobel system. In fact both Blue Sky Bio and Implant Direct make clones. The oral surgeon I send my complex cases to uses the ridiculously affordable ($89) Bio Max line. Lots to consider, best of luck.

CRS has stated it very clearly........put your ego aside, and don't try to be a hero in uncharted territory. From your own admission, you are fairly new in this field and need to get some experience before jumping into uncharted waters. I can honestly tell you, that basically all implant systems are made from the same bar stock.......and in order to have government approval, they are all tested....and in the right hands, they all work. Some of the names you have mentioned are companies that have large budgets for advertising and promotion...and that money comes from the dentists themselves, and from the exhorbitant prices they are paying for the more "popular brands". More than 20 years ago, on a trip to Israel, I was introduced to the owner of a start-up dental implant manufacturer, who was manufacturing internal hex implants, and was not afraid to do so, as the patented internal hex design was not applicable in Israel. That company was called Medigma Technologies, which five years ago changed the name to ADIN IMPLANT SYSTEMS. I have been using this system all this time, have had excellent results, they have a huge variety of implants and prosthetic parts all of the finest quality........ and unbeatable prices...I pass these savings on to my patients, which makes the whole scheme of things easier for them to afford. Gerald Rudick dds

Things to consider like support not only for you but importantly your team. options for type of restorations, angled screw channel, guarantee and help to grow your business ! Best wishes

As a prosthodontist who places most (but not all as I know my surgical limits) I thinks its best to look at the system you have the most success with from a restorative point of view (the one that you feel works best in your hands) and go fromt here as your start point. Most companies will pop in and let you play on a styrofoam model and that should give you an idea for how complicated (or not) the drilling sequence is. Restorativley speaking everythign is pretty much going in a CAD/CAM direction so you want a system that has a digital workflow including intraoral scan bodies (aviod trying to do this is full arch cases). Camlog has been around a long time and has a sound platfrom so don't panic that it might "dissapear", thats more likely with south asian/ east asia brands. Look at the restorative side of the equation and work back!

As a foot note to my previous comment and in line with Gerald's comment a newer german system with a a full CAD/CAM based restorative solutiong from single abutments to full arch beams plus with its own bespoke Guided surgery solution called Magellan (which is also a multi implant platform solution) is the ICX implant system. In the UK ADIN is sold by TryCare and ICX is by First Stop Dental in York. I've been using ICX for over 1 year now i n the UK and the results are brilliant, similar to what you get with ankylos but significant cost savings. Also most of the bigger names mentioned have connections no longer in patent so some of the smaller companies like ICX fabricate abutments, bars etc for those systems at a siginificant price savings that can be handed on to patients.

If you have no experience in implant dentistry, why not go to some courses first? I've been using OCO biomedical implants and mini implants from Intra-lock mostly. Sometimes Zest locator overdenture implants as well. Ot took me a few yrs to get some knowlegde and comfort level placing implants. Get your feet wet with super easy case with boat load of bone as yoyr first case after good amount of training.

I really like camlog but like one of the previous posts stated---they are very expensive...I would really encourage you to take a look at osteoready---Dr Brady Frank is one of the best teachers I have ever come across...he will teach you how to place them AND how to communicate with your patients!!

Implant Direct - Replant

All of the implants you have stated have a great track record and customer support. I would encourage to look at Camalog. But if I was just starting a practice and beginning to place implants OCO Biomedical is where I would start. They have a great support staff, the cost of the implant is very economical, they also carry small diameter and mini implants. They have an aggresive thread with a patented auger tip that helps with beginning stablization and helps prevent micro movement. Ara Nazarian is in Dentistry Today and publishes a lot of cases he has doone with the OCO brand. Before buying take a couple of courses from the company and see what works best in your hands. Best of luck.

Implants are something that you do not want to just jump into. Take your time. I took a three-year continuing education program at Harvard which was every Wednesday for three years. That finished in 1987, in 1986 I picked the Bicon Implant System, which was then called the DB bioengineering system.I picked it because it was all done by and instrumentation and I figured that would prevent all burn and errors due to my enthusiasm to do implants. That was almost 30 years ago, today my practice is totally dedicated to the practice of implant dentistry.So I would say that the learning curve might be considered to be about 30 years, at this point I do all my own surgeries and all my own restorations. I get great support from Bicon and anything I need is delivered to me by the next day. Go slow, take some courses if you haven't already, go onto Facebook believe it or not and find our colleagues who are doing this work there are many all over the world. They are very willing to help. I have found one system that works for me, but others use multiple systems you have to decide for yourself which implant system works best in your hands there is no need to jump in and buy the whole system now. Enjoy yourself it has been the most rewarding field of dentistry that I have practiced since I graduated from Tufts in 1971 and I have no plans to retire at this point or anytime soon! Good luck, take your time, and remember to ask for help, put your ego in your back pocket and sit on it.

I differ with some of the comments and agree with some. As a General Dentist I advice you to place and restore your own Implants. Before you buy a System you should first be properly trained and then decide what is the best system for you to purchase. I recommend either Bicon or Quantum. Note: I am the president of Quantum Implants, We offer different courses from beginners to advance courses You should learn how to do bone grafting, sinus elevation and many other procedures to be a complete implantologist. Respectfully, Raul

A few people here are promoting systems they have a vested interest in which is fine. If you are serious about implants then do a course that is not linked to one system but looks at the clinical aspectes of what is required. An implant is an implant is an implant - look at the Cochrane Report update that came out a few months ago - there is very little difference between systems so there is no "best implant system"

Dear Dr. Tuss, Your comments about there being very little difference between dental implant systems is a very simplistic comment regarding dental implantology. Yes, I have a vested interest in Quantum, but I don't have a vested interest in Bicon. If you noticed, I also recommended Bicon on my posting. Regarding courses not linked with a system, It just happens that I also present courses on Bone Grafting, Sinus Lift, Horizontal Ridge Augmentation and Soft Tissue Surgery. By the way, it will be nice if every posting had the first and last name of the doctors or technicians doing the postings. I know that it is not a requirement, but that way we will be able to better evaluate where the postings are coming from. Sincerely, Raul R. Mena, DMD Oral-Cranio-Maxillofacial Implantology Diplomate, America Board of Oral Implantology Honored Fellow, AAID President, Quantum Dental Implants

It is a tough call because some of the systems that are easier for inexperienced implant dentist are not as good or versatile as more aggressive systems. The Nobel Active system is an amazing system especially in medium and soft bone. Many people gear away from certain systems because of expense. Don't be the dentist placing cheap implants for cheap prices, instead slow down start with extremely easy cases and use quality products with your cases computer planned (guided if you want), but always planned before you start.

Hey. Strongly recommend either Implant Direct or MIS. Great systems and pricing can't be beat. Implant direct has tons of restoring options. Why are you sending out your cases? Get someone to come in and do it in your office.

Hi Dr Raul, nice list of qualifications, I see you have an oral surgery background not resttorative which is fine although implants are restorativley driven protocols so prostho driven. If you re-read my post then you can see no one person has been singled out so not sure why you think it was directed to you - it was advice to the Dr asking the question - if you look at earlier posts then my comments stand. The advice to the Dr asking the question stands - find a course not linked to one specific company and get properly trained before you choose a system and approach you choice from a restorative pathway not a surgical one. I have UK, US and European specialist credentials but this is an informal forum so I don't really see the point of listing them all out here other then to "blow my own trumpet" plus a technical and surgical background so I also agree with the postings that advise learn how to palce and restore your own implants but know your limits surgcially hence take a course that covers implantology in a non-biased way. Back to the original posting - You said you liked Encode (3i) - it is a great solution and works well but other systems have caught up and as long as the systems you are looking at have scan body options (intraoral) then you can do the same thing (but will need an intra oral scanner) Encode is great as you just do a standard impression. 3i have a great product line so does Nobel. Nobel can now use the biomane type screw retained process on single units also so you can angle correct (or screw around a corner) up to 20 degrees - try to find a system with screw retained soultions because most beginners have real issues removing cement around abutments.

Hi Dr. Tuss, When you mentioned courses given by doctors with vested interest in Implant companies, I felt that I needed to make clear that our courses are based on science and not on promoting a system. Please note that I also recommended another implant company. Your advice to the doctor on taken a course not sponsored by any company is ideal and pristine, but sadly 99% of the courses or the speakers are supported one way or another by different vested interest, that includes dental schools and university (grants, perks, trips and free supplies). .I am a dentist and not a musician, so I have no trumpet to blow, and those that know me personally know that my ego is totally under control. I am fairly new to this group and the other lists that I belong to require that we post who we are, so this was done automatically We are in total agreement that Implantology is Prosthetic driven with a Surgical component, but having a good surgical background is always very useful. At the expense of you accusing me again of blowing my own trumpet my practice is geared to Implantology and prosthetic reconstruction. I am fully proficient of the late LD Pankey Long Centric technic, Gnathology and Neuromuscular Occlusion. I was head of the Restorative Crown and Bridge Lab at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry. Also dedicated my practice for the last 30 years to Implant Dentistry and full mouth reconstruction. I have never mentioned Encode in my postings and as a matter of fact have never used Encode, A well taken comment is that must beginners have some problem removing cement from around the implant. That is one of our focus on our courses. By the way I have found out that newbies or experience doctors that leave cement around the abutments are the same one that leave cement on crowns cemented to natural dentition. I look forward to personally meet you at one of the meetings and that we can at least forge a dental friendship. Sincerely without any animosity, Raul

Thank you all for your advice. I am planning on taking an in-depth implant course this year. I wanted a course with cadaver and live patient exercises, and found a course led by UF faculty outside of Tampa - 7 sessions, once per month. I looked at Misch and Maxi, but this course looks very comparable to those and is $4k less. I will wait to purchase an implant system until after I have completed the course, but I have always been the type of person that plans well in advance, so I posted this question as part of my research. As for my implant aspirations, there will always be implant cases that I refer out. Just like root canals and extractions, I will do the cases that I am comfortable with, and will refer the rest out. I realize that the upfront costs are considerable when you factor in the course, equipment, and implants, but I have 35+ years ahead of me in the dental field (knock on wood), and I think the long term growth in production over that time frame will make the initial investment well worth it. Thank you all again for taking time to respond to my question.

I first started with Core-vent then Calcitek,Duo-Dent,,Zimmer,Imtek,Mis7, and have settled on two brands ie HiTech logic and self thread, and Implant Direct legacy. The Hitec is Israeli made, has a good selection of prosthetic attachments and depending on the model used is a clone of an other major brand at only 1/4 the cost. It is compatible with the Zimmer system instrumentation and attachments. I've had as good a success with them as good as with the others. Their customer service is outstanding!!!. Same with Implant Direct and it uses the same instrumentation, they're slightly more $$ but if you need a straight abutment, the implant carrier fixture doubles as an impression transfer and an abutment so you save a few bucks. Call Implant Direct and find out your salesman contact him and he might even give you 4 of them to get you started!! Call HiTech through Dental Implant Technologies Arizona,They have a line of lower cost instrumentation and implantology related items. My rep Dennis has done "back flips for me"

In terms of quality and price, Implant Direct is the winner. This company is one of Danaher who also owns Nobel Biocare which is considered as premium brand in this segment. Implant Direct has variety of systems which are compatible to most designs from major brands. It also carries variety of prosthetic pieces which will make the works easier along with one stop shopping option of its website.