Frequently Asked Questions

Why can BOI implants be loaded earlier than screw implants?

Because they are anchored in the stable cortical bone. Because the implants are stabilized by the prosthetic structure during the healing period,- just like orthopaedic fracture places.

How long will the treatment take for a whole jaw?

The surgical procedure can take anywhere between half an hour and 90 minutes, depending on what implants are needed where and how many. Add to that the short time needed for fabricating and inserting the provisional bridges and/or crowns that allow you to eat again directly on the day of the operation. Both your gums and the dental technician need time to get ready for the fabrication of the definitive restoration. Bridges for non-visible regions may sometimes be firmly cemented in place a few days after the implants are placed, but sometimes this may have to wait until several months later. During this phase a fixed temporary bridge is in the mouth. Because BOI implants generally require a provisional bridge for external splinting (fixation), you will have a restoration in place at all times that you can use and that you never have to be ashamed of, regardless of when your definitive restoration is ready.

Do BOI implants get lost easier than screw implants?

Good news on this count: It has never happened that a BOI has fallen out. Because BOI implants are anchored horizontally within the bone, it is physically unable impossible for them to fall out. Survival rates of more than 95% over a follow-up period of up to ten years have been documented. Nevertheless, the risk that infections - usually originating in or around neighbouring (especially root-canal treated) teeth - or improper loading situations that are not corrected in time or at all may result in implant mobility (loosening) cannot be entirely executed. Slight mobility can be corrected, often resulting in long-term stabilization. For this reason, it is very important for you to consult your BOI specialist at the first signs of premature or bad tooth contacts as you close your mouth. But even if the mobility is irreversible, it is usually possible to replace the failed implant with a new one. Do not hesitate to ask us! BOI implants are the first choice, if other implant treatments have failed,- and this is because these implants work in really minimal amounts of bone.

How long do I have to be without teeth?

You do not have to be without teeth at all, since a temporary plastic restoration will usually be fabricated right after your implants are inserted or on the next day. This restoration will be stable and often better than your removable denture.

Why do other implant manufacturers say it is important that the implant imitates the root of the former tooth?

They - erroneously - assume that implants, from their morphology, should be as close as possible to the tooth. But designs which resemble the teeth usually have the same disadvantages as teeth. The functionality of implants must correspond to the objective to be attained. Wheels have been used instead of legs for thousands of years. As long as there are no motors available that function in exactly the same way as legs do, wheels are functionally very efficient in terms of locomotion and transport. The situation with implants is very similar. Natural teeth are connected to the alveolar bone by the periodontal tissue, which is unfortunately prone to infection. Today we know: the larger the implants are the more likely problems and infections can occur. While implants are connected to the bone through ankylosis (direct growth and attachment of the bone to the tooth), the right shape has no advantage compared to the stable and structurally more favourable shape of the BOI implants. In addition, manufacturers often recommend replacing each tooth separately by one implants and one single crown. Why is that? There may well be economic reasons for that, but redundancy is also an important criterion for many implantologists, because failure of conventional screw implants is not rare. Some patients even have seriously been recommended telescope crowns and removable dentures instead of fixed implant-supported bridges. The reason cited was that the former are easier to clean. But the real reason seems to be that single crowns make it easier to deal with the screw implants as they fail, one by one. BOI technology give you really stable and functional teeth,- really fixed teeth!

What material are BOI implants made of?

Like most other commercially available dental implants, BOI implants are made of pure titanium and some designs are available in bone-compatible, strong plastic.

Are there any long-term studies that cover BOI implants?

It is sometimes claimed that there is no scientific proof or long-term clinical experience concerning BOI implants, as opposed to screw implants. In fact it is just the other way around. Very few screw implants on the market today have been documented for more than three to five years. The dental industry is “innovating” (from the marketing point of view,- and unfortunately not from the scientific point of view) at such a fast pace that implants, once long-term results are finally available, will in all probability no longer be on the market because in the clinical reality it was found that they are technically obsolete. The amazing fact is, that so many different screw implant designs are on the world market: and each systems claims not to have the disadvantages of all other systems. And yet, after a few years, most systems have disappeared form the market. Basal implants have been used for more than 30 years and there is a lot of scientific evidence to them. Because they are so old, you may think that they are outdated, but in fact they are proven.

Is it going to be painful?

In connection with BOI treatment, pain is usually minor. The amount of swelling differs from patient from patient. Other than in traditional screw implants, the following prosthetical works on basal implants is quite painless. Do I have to go to the hospital? BOI implants are generally placed on an outpatient basis in local anesthesia. On request a mild sedation can be administered.

Do I have to go to the hospital?

BOI implants are generally placed on an outpatient basis in local anaesthesia. On request a mild sedation can be administered.

Is BOI implant treatment more expensive than conventional implant treatment?

Whether or not that is the case will depend on many factors - especially on the question what to compare. For most patients the usage of basal implants is connected with the avoidance of bone augmentations, bone transplants, etc. These patients save about 35% of the treatment costs and 98% of the treatment time if they decide for our variant of treatment.

Will I be operated in general anaesthesia?

General anesthesia is generally not necessary. However, if you yourself prefer general anesthesia, this is possible in cooperation with an anesthesiologist.

How long will the implants last?

There are studies on basal implants showing that more than 95% of all implants are still in place after 10 years. But here, too, the individual prognosis will be determined by individual factors: What does the rest of the dentition look like? How good is the patient’s oral care? Who did what and when? Not least to ensure that operator skills are always well-developed and consistently excellent, only authorized users may work with BOI implants. And should the problem really occur, after all - well, BOI implants can be replaced instantly.

What happens if an implant becomes loose?

Please contact your BOI implantologist immediately. Mobilization (loosening) is sometimes simply a reaction of the bone to inappropriate loading or overloading. The advantage of BOI implants compared to any screw implant is that the bone remodeling process occurs deep inside the sterile bone. By contrast, if a screw implant becomes mobile, pathogens will quickly enter the zone where the implant emerges from the gums, resulting in infection and, ultimately, implant loss. BOI implants in this situation will stabilize if an occlusal correction is made in time.

Will my health insurance pay the bill?

This depends on your insurance plan. Usually state insurances do not pay implants at all.

What will the treatment cost?

That will of course depend on the extent of the procedure and the location.