Dental implantation is rapidly gaining popularity. Every year, about a million patients improve their quality of life and the aesthetics of their smile thanks to implants. There are dozens of brands and models on the service market, and they all compete with each other. Each pin released falls into a certain, albeit unofficial, category and affects the popularity of the brand. Dentists say that the best dental implantation is the one that suits the given clinical case. Why then does one implant cost 15 thousand rubles, and the other 60 thousand?
The price of an implant is influenced by many factors, primarily the manufacturer. Famous brands invest millions of dollars in research, development and search for new technologies. The high quality of their products is guaranteed, because products from well-known brands meet all the key parameters required for implants.
Let's consider what criteria influence the rating of dental implants.
Dental implant companies and manufacturing countries
Today, there are a number of manufacturing countries that occupy a prominent place on the implantology map. Dental implant companies located in these countries produce about 90% of the total number of implants on the market. If you go to the website of any dentistry, then in the “implantation” section you will probably see countries such as the USA, Switzerland, Germany, Israel and Korea. Most ordinary people do not know how this or that implant differs, but at the same time, any sane person realizes that a two- or three-fold difference in price should imply at least some differences. That is why the question: “Which brand of dental implants is better?” – asks most patients. It is difficult to answer this unequivocally, because each clinical case may have its own recommendations and limitations. Below is a rating of dental implants by manufacturers from different countries, which will help you understand the variety of systems, their advantages and disadvantages.
Size difference
To make an ideal choice, it is necessary to take into account the size of the dental implants of a particular patient. The characteristics of the human jaw require a diverse range of implants, available in different shapes and sizes. The length of implants usually varies between 2 – 16 mm, although sometimes smaller products are needed – 1.8 mm. Their diameter can also be represented by different sizes.
The task of the implantologist is to ensure that he can easily navigate the wide variety and if the patient requires dental implantation, the types of implants, their sizes and features, the doctor can choose correctly.
Swiss dental implants
Switzerland is often associated with the production of cheese and watches, but implantation can also be added here. It is this country that produces the highest quality, most expensive and well-known brands of implants. We are talking, first of all, about Nobel Biocare and Straumann. They have the highest survival rate (99% and above) and the best technology. It is Swiss implants that allow you to obtain ideal aesthetic and functional results even in the most difficult cases. The majority of clinicians in the world prefer to work with Swiss manufacturers, many of whom are real luminaries of implantology. By the way, to use the capabilities of these systems 100%, you need to be really high-level specialists. Now about the less pleasant moments. The cost of implants from Switzerland is the highest on the market. On average, for the installation of Nobel Biocare or Straumann implants alone, you will have to pay 45–50 thousand rubles. Add to this cost the cost of prosthetics, and you will get a sum close to 100 thousand.
Swiss dental implants Nobel Biocare
Rating of the best implants regardless of price
| 1 | Nobel Biocare |
| 2 | Astra Tech |
| 3 | Straumann |
| 4 | Ankylos |
| 5 | Biohorizons |
| 6 | Bicon |
| 7 | Impro |
| 8 | Semados |
| 9 | SgS |
| 10 | Denti System |
| 11 | Alpha Bio |
| 12 | Xive |
| 13 | Mis |
| 14 | Anyridge |
| 15 | Osstem |
| 16 | Icx |
| 17 | Ards |
| 18 | Implantium |
| 19 | Niko (Rusimplant) |
| 20 | Adin |
| 21 | Conmet(Rusimplant) |
American dental implants
The most popular American dental implants are Bicon, Biohorizon, as well as implants from the Denstply concern. If the first two systems can be considered local developments, then Dentsply is a slightly different story. A huge holding company, which has been selling dental equipment since its founding (and this is 1899), at some point wanted to enter the implantology industry. The company did not start from scratch and invest huge amounts of money in developing its own technologies, but simply gradually acquired several good European manufacturers with all the staff and developments. We are talking about Ankylos (Germany), Xive (Germany) and Astra Tech (Sweden). The most successful was the purchase of Astra Tech, which was in the top 3 and occupied about 30% of the implantology market. Despite the merger with Dentsply, all acquired companies retained their brand and continue to produce implants under it.
Americans are excellent businessmen who have taken marketing and PR in dentistry to a whole new level. At the same time, American dental implants also mean quality, high survival rate and reliability. On average, you will have to pay 30–35 thousand rubles for American-made implants (BioHorizons, Ankylos, Xive), and the elite Astra Tech will cost 40–45 thousand.
Bicon line of American dental implants
Important points in choosing implants –
If you are planning to install an implant in the area of the front teeth and aesthetics are important to you, or you want prosthetics to be carried out immediately or in the early stages after surgery (up to 2-6 weeks, and not after 3-6 months), then you should not choose the cheapest implant options available. The fact is that the rate of engraftment depends primarily on the characteristics of the implant surface, for example, on the degree of hydrophilicity of the surface, as well as on the grade of titanium and the presence of impurities in it.
Most implantologists will immediately tell you that the best choice of implants will be Straumann (Switzerland), especially if the implant is made not from ordinary titanium, but from Roxolid material (an alloy of titanium and zirconium dioxide). These implants have the best surface in the world, providing excellent results. Yes, these are expensive implants and, of course, if you can hardly afford them, you shouldn’t go into debt and take out loans. In this case, it is better to choose at least MIS (Israel) or Osstem (Korea).
If you have diabetes, osteoporosis, you are a smoker, or you have other diseases (slowing down the osseointegration of implants), then, firstly, it is recommended for you to either use implants with increased surface hydrophilicity. Or the second option is the use of basal-type implants, which are fixed in the deeper parts of the bone and, thus, reduce the adverse risks of osteoporosis, diabetes and smoking.
Example of using basal type implants: video
Choice of implants in the area of the front teeth –
When implanting in the aesthetic zone, it is best to give preference to implants that cause less bone atrophy at the implant neck. Atrophy occurs around all implants, and the differences concern only its magnitude. In implantology, atrophy of 1 mm is considered normal - within 1 year from the moment of prosthetics on an implant and up to 0.2 mm per year - over the next 4 years (Fig. 14). A decrease in the bone level at the neck of the implant will first lead to cyanosis of the gums (which will already be very noticeable when you smile), and then to exposure of the metal neck of the implant.
In terms of the amount of bone atrophy after 5 years of functional load, i.e. from the moment of prosthetics on implants - the best today are implants from AstraTech, Straumann and NobelBiocare (Fig. 15). It should be noted that most manufacturing companies do not publish this data at all. These listed companies have atrophy values significantly lower (compared to the standard).
Results of studies on the amount of bone atrophy at the neck of implants –
For objectivity, it should be noted that the study on changes in bone level in Fig. 15 was carried out using specific models, and not the entire line of implants of these companies (for example, NobelBiocare - implants of the Brånemark system took part in the study). But if we take other implant models, for example, “NobelActiv” from NobelBiocare or “BL” or “BLT” implants from Straumann, then the amount of atrophy as such will no longer differ from AstraTech implants.
Well, the last point when you should not save on the cost of implants is if there is insufficient bone volume in the implantation zone (especially if we are talking about the aesthetic zone). If in this case the doctor offered you the option of installing an implant with one-stage bone grafting, you will not be able to save on the cost of the implant, and the author of the article still considers Straumann implants to be the best option in this situation.
German dental implants
Germany is also one of the most famous manufacturers of dental implants. Having started their activity mainly in the 80s, German implant manufacturers have established themselves with excellent product quality and successful developments, which subsequently contributed to the merger with American concerns. Today Germany is represented by SHUTZ, Xive, Ankylos, Impro, and other lesser-known systems. All of them are close to the top segment, have a good line of implants and orthopedic solutions. Precision and scrupulousness are valued all over the world, which is why German dental implants have many fans among specialists.
German-made dental implants cost an average of 30–35 thousand rubles, which puts them on par with most American-made implants. Ankylos will cost a little more (about 40 thousand) - a system whose characteristics are closest to the luxury class.
Line of German dental implants Zimmer
Korean dental implants
In the 90s, the field of medicine and dentistry became one of the priorities for the Korean economy, which allowed the country to become one of the leading suppliers of dental equipment. In the production of implants, Korea represents the budget category, and the most famous Korean dental implants are Osstem and Implantium. The advantages (besides the price) include a very wide range of models and good survival rate. They are quite popular on the Russian market, especially in the Far Eastern region of our country. However, some experts believe that these implants are not intended for all clinical cases and are inferior to top-end systems in terms of achieving an aesthetic result. Today, the price of Korean dental implants averages about 20 thousand rubles, which is quite good, considering their quite acceptable quality.
Line of Korean dental implants
Korea
Koreans offer modern and affordable systems for implantation. This allowed them to take a leading position in sales. Manufacturers Implantium and Osstem have gained worldwide fame. The choice of prosthetic configurations is quite diverse; they are used in different clinical cases. Korean implants are not as versatile as European and American ones.
Like any budget implants, Korean products have their drawbacks. These implants are not suitable for all patients, and the survival rate is high, but inferior to their European counterparts.
In our country, products from Korean manufacturers are popular because they are high quality and affordable.
Israeli dental implants
Together with Korean implants, Israel occupies an economy class niche, and the Alpha Bio and MIS systems (especially the first) are very popular in Russia. This is not only due to price: the manufacturer invests significant sums in promoting its products. Israeli dental implants are very reliable, are well suited for restoring the chewing part of teeth and do not require the clinician to have any outstanding skills. In general, reviews of Israeli dental implants are very positive. However, there are also weak points.
Many clinicians note the lack of wide possibilities in prosthetics, which inevitably affects aesthetics.
The price of Israeli dental implants is very attractive. For 17–20 thousand, clinics offer installation of a titanium root, and turnkey implantation will cost an average of 40 thousand rubles. If lesser-known Israeli systems are used, the price will be even lower.
Israeli dental implant MIS
What else does the success of dental implantation depend on?
We have already said that a completely better implant system simply does not exist. This is due to the fact that there are many clinical situations in the oral cavity for which an implant from one or another manufacturer would be preferable. This will depend not only on the model of the implant or the volume of bone at the implantation site, but, which is also very important, on which implantation technique will be used.
- The classic two-stage implantation technique - this technique implies that after installing the implant, the mucous membrane above it is sutured tightly. Thus, osseointegration (engraftment) of the implant occurs under sterile conditions, without the influence of bacteria in the oral fluid and negative physical factors such as smoking. This technique is called a two-stage method because after the end of the implant’s healing period, a minor surgical operation is required - the mucous membrane above the implant is opened, the plug screw is unscrewed and a gum former is installed. Prosthetics with this technique is carried out after 3-6 months, which depends on the density and volume of the bone at the implantation site. This method is the safest for smokers, for various concomitant diseases, and in general for any other group of patients.
- One-stage implantation method - it differs from the previous method in that the gum former is screwed into the implant not after the end of its engraftment period, but at the end of the implantation operation.
thus, the formation of the gum contour around the implant will occur already during the period of its engraftment. On the one hand, this will save 2 weeks of time required to form the gum contour using a two-stage technique. But on the other hand, the osseointegration zone (the contact zone between the implant and the bone) will no longer be in sterile conditions, i.e. will come into contact with oral fluid. A one-stage implantation method is necessary when early prosthetics on an implant is planned (for example, within 2-6 weeks), but this is possible in rare cases. This method is not suitable for smokers, patients with diabetes, osteoporosis, etc. Read more about this technique at the link above. - Immediate dental implantation – this method means that a temporary plastic crown will be made and fixed within a few hours after the implantation operation. This method is good, for example, in the absence of 1 front tooth, and it allows you to immediately achieve acceptable aesthetics. Read how immediate implantation is performed in the link above.
- Implantation in the absence of teeth - modern implantation techniques make it possible to obtain a completely permanent bridge prosthesis within 1-3 days after surgery. These techniques include the basal implantation technique, as well as the All-on-4 technique. In some cases, these techniques cannot be used, and then the classic two-stage implantation technique can again come to the rescue, but in this case, the bridge will be installed not 1-3 days after the operation, but approximately 6 months later.
Russian dental implants
Dental implants are also produced in Russia, although few people know about it. For example, there are IRIS implants - an improved LIKO-M system, which appeared more than 20 years ago. IRIS is produced in Italy using Russian technology and has an international certificate of ISO 9001-2000.
The abbreviation IRIS stands for Innovative Russian Dental Implant System Liko-M. Implants are made from pure GRADE-4 titanium. Premium implants from Nobel Biocare, Astra Tech, Straumann are made from the same material.
The first implant was developed in 1995 by a team of scientists led by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergei Yuryevich Ivanov. The scientific basis of the Iris Liko-M system is 55 dissertations defended under his leadership.
How to choose implants
In some dentistry, patients are offered to combine implant systems . For example, install premium Nobel implants in the anterior area, and budget Osstem implants in the lateral areas. This is the wrong approach, since the designs of different brands are made from different grades of titanium or contain other impurities in the alloy. Installing implants from more than one manufacturer is fraught with the development of a galvanic effect (the feeling of a battery in the mouth).
Examples of dental restoration using ROOTT implants:
More examples of work here.
RUTT clinics use implantation systems, suprastructures and prosthetics made from titanium of the same brand, which eliminates the very possibility of such a complication. The doctor selects options and agrees with the patient on the appropriate one based on indications and price.
How important is the manufacturer of a dental implant?
In conclusion, I would like to note that the brand certainly influences the cost of the implant, but it is naive to think that you are paying such large sums just for the name. Top implants offer the broadest possible options for both the patient and the clinician. None of these systems compromise between functionality and aesthetics: it allows you to solve the patient's problem and give him a beautiful smile, even in difficult clinical situations in which a budget system could not perform in the same way. However, economy class systems today are of very high quality and, for certain indications, can become a worthy alternative to more expensive analogues.
Rating of the best implants in terms of price/quality ratio
| 1 | Alpha Bio |
| 2 | Ankylos |
| 3 | Xive |
| 4 | Nobel Biocare |
| 5 | Biohorizons |
| 6 | Bicon |
| 7 | M.I.S. |
| 8 | Impro |
| 9 | Astra Tech |
| 10 | Semados |
| 11 | Straumann |
| 12 | Osstem |
| 13 | SgS |
| 14 | Denti System |
| 15 | Ards |
| 16 | Anyridge |
| 17 | Icx |
| 18 | Niko |
| 19 | Conmet |
| 20 | Implantium |
| 21 | Adin |
Attention! It is still necessary to understand that the success of implantation is primarily influenced by the professionalism of the doctor. A half-educated doctor can install excellent Nobel Biocare, so that it would be better not to install it, while a real pro can install inexpensive Russian Niko, so that the patient will then walk around and laugh at his friends who spent several times more money and received same effect.
