At an official ceremony in Miami, the Straumann Group was presented with the 2005 Medical Device Technology of the Year Award for its next-generation dental implant surface technology, SLActive. The Award, which recognizes excellence in technological innovation, is one of the Best Practices Awards bestowed by Frost & Sullivan, the global growth consulting company.
Straumann’s SLActive implant surface technology promises to set a new standard in tooth replacement and patient care by reducing healing times by half, to just 3-4 weeks. The implications of this are shorter treatment protocols, higher predictability and reduced risk with earlier loading.
SLActive implants are made of highly pure titanium and are specially treated to give them an optimal surface topography for bone cells to attach themselves. Using an innovative manufacturing process, the surface is conditioned in nitrogen and immediately preserved in an isotonic saline solution. This maintains its high surface activity, which would otherwise be lost due to reaction with the atmosphere. On the basis of preclinical and clinical results, these properties accelerate the healing process of osseointegration with the result that early bone-to-implant contact is significantly increased. This in turn results in greater implant stability and reduces the risk of implant failure by up to 60%[1].
SLActive is supported by more scientific studies than any other dental implant technology at market launch. For more information, please see the current edition of
Starget, Straumann’s customer magazine, or visit
www.straumann.com/slactive.