OSSEOTITE® Tapered Implant System
Why Tapered Implants Are Different

Due to the geometrical differences that exist between a tapered and a parallel walled implant, there are several important technique adjustments that are required.

In all tapered implant placement procedures, the surgeon should determine the appropriate vertical position of the implant (supracrestal, crestal or subcrestal) at the time of osteotomy preparation. The surgeon should prepare the tapered osteotomy so that when the implant is fully seated, the implant seating surface is at the desired position. The OSSEOTITE Tapered Depth Indicators (NTDI) were designed to confirm OSSEOTITE Tapered Implant position prior to seating the implant.  After preparation of the osteotomy with the final shaping drill, suction out the osteotomy to remove debris. Select the corresponding NTDI and place the tapered end into the osteotomy. Check the platform position (crestal or subcrestal) of the NTDI in relation to the adjacent bone. This position locates where the platform of the OSSEOTITE Tapered Implant will be positioned when properly placed. If during placement with the power drill, the OSSEOTITE Tapered Implant platform is higher in relation to the bone than was the NTDI platform, the clinician should consider using a hand ratchet to complete the implant placement so that the tapered portion of the implant body conforms correctly with the tapered portion of the osteotomy (Figure 1. Proper Subcrestal Placement).

Over Preparing the osteotomy depth and then placing the implant at a crestal level may result in a conical space around the apical and coronal aspects of the tapered implant with minimal thread engagement (Figure 2. Over Prepared Subcrestal Placement). This placement position may result in decreased implant to osteotomy contact, with contact occurring only along the parallel coronal portion of the implant, resulting in decreased stability of the implant.

Under Preparing the osteotomy depth and then placing the implant more apical relative to the prepared depth may result in increased pressure along the tapered portion of the osteotomy and on the collar contact areas of the implant profile (Figure 3. Under Prepared Subcrestal Placement), which may result in pressure necrosis of the surrounding bone. The clinician may consider undersizing the osteotomy in extremely soft bone density (e.g. Type IV).