OsseoSpeedÇ—¢ Bone-growing trigger for dental implants - Faster and safer treatment results

OsseoSpeedÇ—¢ Bone-growing trigger for dental implants - Faster and safer treatment results
September 15, 2004
A unique bone growth catalyst from the medical device company, Astra Tech, will improve patient treatment standards by bringing a new dimension to the design and performance of titanium dental implants. It is to be announced at the annual congress of the European Association for Osseointegration, to be held in Paris on 16 -18 September.
The patented OsseoSpeedÇ—¢ process exploits the power of fluoride to encourage the growth of more bone more rapidly after implantation. This is achieved by chemically modifying the surface of the implant with traces of fluoride, providing a dynamic interface with the surrounding bone tissue.

"OsseoSpeed is a bone-growing trigger. It introduces an interactive, dynamic element to implant treatment that will improve healing for all patients" says Anders Holm?©n, Dental Medical Director at Astra Tech. "It will help meet patient demand for safer, more effective early loading after installation."

"OsseoSpeed works by generating a biological and bio-chemical interaction in the early healing phase after implant installation, providing increased bone formation and stronger bone-to-implant bonding. These positive bone responses will be preserved by the well-documented bio-mechanical advantages of Astra Tech Implants, ensuring a predictable long-term function."

Pre-clinical trials demonstrate that OsseoSpeed from Astra Tech produces 'more bone, more rapidly' in the crucial healing period immediately after installation. Astra Tech foresees a number of important patient benefits:

Safer, more successful treatment for all patients
Improved treatment for patients with sub-optimal bone
Faster and stronger bone healing to support shorter treatment times

The introduction of OsseoSpeed builds on the success of Astra Tech's current implant technology and is introduced as a further development of the patented TiOblastÇ—¢ surface.

The bone-growing power of OsseoSpeed will allow more patients with soft or delicate parts of the jawbone to benefit from implant treatment. Stimulating and preserving bone growth also encourages healthy gum tissue and prevents problems with 'black triangles' appearing between implanted crowns where gum margins have receeded.

In association with Astra Tech, Professor Jan Eirik Ellingsen, head of the Institute of Clinical Dentistry at Oslo University, has pioneered the development of OsseoSpeed in order to give better and faster healing for patients immediately after implantation.

In-vitro and in-vivo studies¨? with fluoride-modified and unmodified TiOblast surfaces have confirmed OsseoSpeed triggers both faster, stronger and better quality bone growth at the implant/bone interface. It improves bone growth speed, the total surface contact area and bonding strength by the order of 30 - 50 per cent.

Two further independent scientists, using in-vitro (stem cell) and in-vivo research, have confirmed Professor Ellingsen's findings 2,3 and OsseoSpeed is now backed by a proven and well-documented research record over a period of 10 years.