BioHorizons reports on comparative three-year dental implant study

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama--BioHorizons, a leader in the dental implant industry, has reported 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.

"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 1.5-2 mm of bone loss documented with other implants."

The study, published in Implant Dentistry, followed 20 pairs of implants in 15 patients from one 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 3.60 mm and the mean crestal bone loss was 1.94 mm for the control implants versus only 2.30 mm and 0.59 mm, 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-Lok microchannels and confirms what our customers have been telling us for some time."

The effectiveness of Laser-Lok has been shown in more than 15 years of in vitro, animal, and human studies at leading universities.

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References available upon request from company.