Versatility of Nobel Biocare Implant Systems Offers Treatment Flexibility
Nobel Biocare has a reputation for driving innovation and establishing dental industry standards. For more than 40 years, Nobel Biocare has been providing state-of-the-art, evidence-based, root-to-tooth restorative solutions in dental implants, all-ceramic restorations, guided surgery/optical scanning software systems, and biomaterials. The company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with more than 2500 employees and six manufacturing facilities worldwide.
Quality and reliability are the cornerstones of their research and development efforts. Nobel Biocare routinely holds clinician reference group meetings to obtain input regarding their needs and feedback on product development. “We verify our product designs with extensive mechanical testing and then validate them in prospective 5-year multicenter clinical studies,” says Steve Hurson, Chief Scientist.
Nobel Biocare offers a large selection of temporary, permanent, standard, and customized abutments and implants. Their top implant products are NobelReplace™ and the new NobelActive™. NobelActive is recommended only for clinicians experienced in implant placement. It is designed to provide minimally invasive insertion, high stability in compromised bone, gradual bone condensing, and built-in platform shifting and has an expanding tapered body with double variable threads and a dual-function prosthetic connection. Its apical drilling blades enable “active” directional changes for optimal positioning while macroscopic grooving and the unique TiUnite® surface enhance osseointegration and soft-tissue response.
Sonia Leziy, DDS, Diplomate Periodontics, was involved in the preclinical phase and has been placing NobelActive implants for almost 2 years. “NobelActive is a very powerful implant in that it allows us to manipulate bone. While it requires skill and an understanding of bone response, it offers expanded options for treatment,” Dr. Leziy says. “It has a very aggressive thread and amazing primary stability. The design allows you to remove less bone because it can cut its way into bone. It’s opened up immediate implant restoration—patients can walk in with a tooth and walk out with a tooth.”
More than 130,000 NobelActive implants were sold in 2008. This unprecedented response has signified that NobelActive surpasses the requirements and demands of experienced surgical and restorative clinicians throughout the world. In fact, the launch of NobelActive in May 2008 was the most successful implant launch in the company’s history. For 2009, Nobel Biocare is adding additional lengths, as well as new innovative prosthetic solutions, to the NobelActive product range.
Dr. Leziy, who is a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia and practices in North Vancouver, BC, has been a long-time NobelReplace implant user, as well. NobelReplace Tapered implants are easy to use for standard clinical techniques. Color coded by diameter for fast component identification, they have a tri-channel connection for accurate and secure placement, grooved threads, and a collar design that improves soft- and hard-tissue integration.
“I’ve had good long-term results with NobelReplace, too,” Leziy continues. “Both systems are very comprehensive. They offer the full realm of surgical solutions and prosthetic choices for different applications and preferences. The versatility of the Nobel Biocare portfolio provides a high degree of flexibility.”
Nobel Biocare revolutionized digital dentistry with NobelGuide™, a complete system for digital diagnostics, treatment planning, and guided implant surgery. The 3-dimensional technology can be used to identify bone type and density, orient implant placement virtually, and then order a customized surgical template for safe, effective drilling and implant seating.
Not surprisingly, Nobel Biocare has capitalized on Internet technology. “We have two new opportunities for eLearning. The HDIQ Web site (www.hdiqdental.com) offers complete Continuing Education courses online with video to demonstrate clinical procedures. And we are the first dental company to have its own iTunes® [Apple Inc, Cupertino, CA] site for downloading educational material about products and their clinical usage,” says Neil Park, DMD, Vice President, Professional Relations. “Our growth has always been dependent on our investment in the education of the dental practitioner. We also conduct more than 1500 courses per year in North America on our clinical technologies.
“For dental educators, we established the Educators’ Toolbox, a resource center for faculty to download photographs, graphics, and videos to use in building course curriculum,” Dr. Park continues. “And—most exciting—we will soon release a video game simulation that teaches dental students to make clinical decisions in a virtual patient setting.”
In addition, at a dedicated Web site called NobelSmile™ (www.nobelsmile.us), patients can review tooth replacement options from implants to fixed and removable bridges and dentures, see before-and-after photos, and read commonly asked questions. More than 900 dental offices carry NobelVision™ (www.nobelvision.com), a television-like patient and staff education system.
“I have experienced high patient acceptance for implants. They seem to be aware of the options. The Internet is a key factor, as are television and word-of-mouth referrals. Patients hear things, and they explore them,” Dr. Leziy notes. “Nobel Biocare is a very progressive company. They are always a step ahead, stimulating clinicians to embrace technological advancements that are aimed at improving treatment quality and patient acceptance.”
Nobel Biocare USA, LLC
22715 Savi Ranch Parkway, Yorba Linda, CA 92887
(800) 993-8100
(714) 998-9236
www.nobelbiocare.com/en/splash/
