Kontact™ Implants: A Wide Range of Options for Optimal Outcomes

In 1985, when Robert A. Horowitz, DDS, took his first course in dental implant surgery, things were quite different than they are now. Implants, he says, had an external hex restorative connection, were machined pure titanium, and were placed with a vestibular incision in the anterior mandible.

"Every aspect of implant placement has changed in the past 37 years," says Horowitz, a second-generation dentist who practices in Scarsdale, New York. "Thanks to much research, internal connections have been found to be more stable, helping to preserve crestal bone. Implants with a ‘rough' surface have been shown to become osseointegrated to a higher percentage of their surface, and tapered designs enable placement in parts of the mouth with limited buccolingual bone in apical regions." He also cites new technologies in osteotomy creation and preparation.

Moreover, he observes, clinicians have an abundance of implant systems from which to choose, with numerous options in sizes and shapes-and Horowitz has used many of them. He speaks especially favorably of Kontact^™ implants from Biotech Dental, which he has been placing with a high degree of success. "The Kontact system has numerous advantages, including macro and micro designs, an identical restorative platform for all implant sizes wider than 3 mm diameter, and ease of placement," he attests.

"Kontact implants have an aggressive taper at the apex for excellent primary stability. With a long cylindrical body, there is a great deal of surface area for osseointegration," Horowitz says. "The Kontact S+ implants incorporate a wider thread pattern, which offers advantages in less dense bone, for which they are indicated." Besides the greater primary stability in less dense trabeculation of bone, the implants act as healing chambers that fill with vital bone at a high rate, he says, citing research from Dr. Paulo Coelho and colleagues.

Having demonstrated predictable bone preservation and esthetic results for years in Europe, Kontact implants, with more than 2.5 million having been placed worldwide, are relatively new to the US market. Horowitz is impressed with the versatility they provide.

"Their simple and predictable planning and placement make the surgical phase easy for patients," he states. "Because of the broad range of Kontact implant widths and lengths, most sites can receive implants without additional bone grafting. The internal connection is easy to impress and for labs to fabricate restorations for, and, most importantly, is highly retentive for the final prosthesis. Due to the macro and micro implant designs, they preserve bone and gingival tissue."

Horowitz appreciates the extensive portfolio of restorative components of the Kontact line of implants. "They are available for single and multi-unit, fixed and removable cases," he says. "There is digital and analog availability that exceeds that of most dental implant systems on the market."

Robert A. Horowitz, DDS
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, New York; Private Practice in Periodontics, Scarsdale, New York

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