Gannage Holding - Blog - Significant CrestalBone and Soft Tissue Retention Using Laser-Lok® Microchannels

3-Year Study Highlights the Clinical Success of Dental Implants with Laser-Lok Technology over Traditional Implants

BioHorizons, a leader in the dental implant industry, reported today that data from a three-year prospective, controlled, multi-center study of implants with Laser-Lok surface treatment confirmed previous results observed for Laser-Lok in vitro and in animal studies. Laser-Lok implants showed superior crestal bone maintenance when compared to traditional implants and to bone loss commonly reported in other studies.

"A physical, connective tissue attachment to dental implants was shown for the first time in human and animal studies on Laser-Lok published last year," commented Dr. John L. Ricci, PhD. "This latest study shows the clinical benefits of a physical connective tissue attachment to Laser-Lok are significant when compared to the typical 1.5-2mm of bone loss documented with other implants."

The study, published in Implant Dentistry, followed 20 pairs of implants in 15 patients from 1 to 37 months postoperative. A dental implant with Laser-Lok surface treatment was placed adjacent to a control implant of the same body design without Laser-Lok. Measurement values were reported for bleeding index, plaque index, probing depth, and crestal bone loss.

At 37 months, the mean probing depth was 3.60mm and the mean crestal bone loss was 1.94mm for the control implants versus only 2.30mm and 0.59mm, respectively, for the Laser-Lok implants. The difference in probing depth across the patient population demonstrated the consistent formation of a stable soft-tissue seal around the Laser-Lok implants and above the crestal bone. In addition, no difference in bleeding or plaque index between the Laser-Lok implants and the machined implants was shown, alleviating possible concerns about placing Laser-Lok implants supracrestal.

Steve Boggan, President and CEO of BioHorizons, added, "This study provides valuable information about the positive, long-term outcomes of dental implants with Laser-Lokmicrochannels and confirms what our customers have been telling us for some time."

The effectiveness of Laser-Lok has been shown in over 15 years of in vitro, animal, and human studies at leading universities. This patented precision laser surface treatment is unique within the industry as the only surface treatment shown to attract a physical connective tissue attachment to a predetermined zone on the implant while inhibiting epithelial downgrowth and preserving the coronal level of bone over the long term.