Researchers develop new technology for user friendly and affordable tooth implants

Going to a dentist is always considered to be a costly affair. A new development by Indian scientists promises to change this. A group of researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Delhi) and Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) have developed a new technology for dental implants which they say would be user-friendly and affordable solution for the treatment of missing tooth. These implants can work for all kind of conditions like single or multiple missing teeth and even for providing full denture.

"It took us ten years to come up with this technology. We have learnt to make it to the best of perfections, tolerances and fits. The implants that are imported are expensive and the companies making them are unwilling to share the technology so we have made indigenous implants " said Prof Naresh Bhatnagar, researcher, IIT Delhi.

The researchers studied a range of anthropometry in India based on which they developed the implants. The design was based on the premise of minimum stress generation during the insertion of a threaded titanium implant. For every diameter, the abutment size is different and they all have different screws. So the researchers had to make a multi-functional component.

The innovations include the use of the same prosthetic platform for all implant integrated platform switching and the development of a single component which serves as implant mount, implant impression transfer coping, implant impression pickup coping (with long screw) and as the final straight abutment. The surface treatment for the implant was developed with a combination of grit blasting and acid etching for better Osseointegration of the implant with the surrounding bone.