|
At Long Island Team Implantology we only utilize the Straumann ITI dental Implant System because of its many unique properties. Some of these significant advantages are as follows:
One-step vs. two-step dental implants
A two-step implant requires two surgical procedures before the implant is ready to be utilized for tooth fabrication. One surgical procedure is necessary to raise the gum back for the implant to be placed in the bone, and then the gum is sewn back together over the top of the implant to allow healing. At the end of the healing period the same surgery is then performed to uncover the healed implant, in order to place the tooth. All dental implants currently available with the exception of the Swiss-made ITI fixture and two or three companies that make a knockoff of this implant are of this type. In 1974 a group of preeminent Swiss dental researchers invented the one-step dental implant which, when placed is level with the gum rather than submerged, thus eliminating the need for a second surgical procedure, not to mention additional weeks or months of gum healing a second time.
 |
 |
|
One Step Design
|
Two Step Design
|
Types of titanium
There are four grades of titanium that implants are allowed to be made from. Type I titanium is the weakest, softest form of the metal while type IV titanium is work hardened, tempered titanium. The problem with the softer forms of the metal is a tendency for the implant to become fatigued and fracture over time. All Straumann implants are made exclusively from grade IV commercially pure titanium, making implant fractures a thing of the past.
Bonding strength
Bonding strength of the implant is determined by surface area. In the early days of implant therapy we thought that there were two factors determining the bonding strength of the implant to the bone, namely, the length of the implant and the diameter of the implant. After 10 years of research the Swiss realized that if they roughened the surface of the implant by making micro porosities by dipping the implant in a strong acid bath, and then made larger porosities by a special sandblasting method, they could increase the surface area for bonding of the implant by about 30%. They named this pioneering surface technology SLA. This is an extremely important innovation because many patients have limited bone available, and or poor quality bone for dental implants. These patients were either not considered candidates or required extensive bone grafting procedures before implant placement was possible. Now, because of this surface modification, shorter implants may be used with the same strength as a longer conventional (smooth) surface implants. Patients require fewer grafting procedures and the implant is stronger in patients with poorer quality bone.
 Healing time
Another direct result of the use of the SLA surface which was not anticipated at the time of the original research was a significant decrease in the healing time of the implant. Instead of the usual healing time of 4 to 6 months, the Straumann ITI implant is fully integrated and ready for a permanent tooth replacement in as little as 6 weeks.
 Swiss precision
The manufacturing precision of the implant is of paramount importance because all implants are eventually fitted with a post or abutment after healing. It is on top of this abutment that the actual tooth is fabricated. Once this post is placed on the implant it is imperative that this is perfectly stable and never loosens up. With many of the implant systems on the market today, this is a distinct problem which can cause frequent trips to the dentist for retightening and can cause infections with consequent bone loss around the implant.
Straumann, a Swiss, precision metallurgy company since 1954 has its origins in the watch business as well as the manufacture of precision orthopedic and dental implants. Although the company does not make watches, they do make the watch springs for Rolex, Cartier and IWC, arguably the most precise items on earth. The Straumann ITI implant fixture is manufactured to these same extraordinary tolerances so both the dentist and patient can rest assured that abutment loosening will never become a problem.
Variety of Implant Sizes
Most dental implant systems are basically one size fits all. In general, this means that the same diameter implant is used regardless of whether the intent is to replace a small front incisor tooth or to replace a large back molar. This is significant because a narrow implant placed for a large molar tooth leaves large spaces at the gum line which becomes a constant source of annoying food trapping.
The Straumann ITI implant comes in various lengths as well as diameters depending upon the specific tooth it is intended to replace. Because the implant is specifically designed to replace small, medium, and large sized teeth, food trapping is generally a thing of the past.
Loss of bone
Progressive loss of bone around a dental implant can occur over time and can lead to eventual loss the of the implant itself. Many companies view a loss of 1mm. of bone in the first year and .1mm. of bone loss in each subsequent year as normal.
 One extremely important factor in progressive bone loss around implants depends upon where and how the abutment connects to the implant. Almost all implants have this connection at the level of the bone where bacteria can literally swim out and cause low grade infection leading to bone loss.
The ITI implant is made so that this abutment connection is at gum level instead of bone level avoiding this “ normal “ bone loss phenomenon.
|
