DIFFERENT FOR A REASON

The genesis of the PerioSeal™ Implant (PSI™) system was an engineering project to develop a stronger implant abutment connection and to eliminate the open micro-gap at the implant abutment junction. The project was expanded to include biological research to identify the principle causes of implant failure. The PerioSeal™ implant biological project addressed the identification of the bacteria within the implant abutment junction. A review of the other implant literature also provided a vast body of information on implant bone loss starting at the cervical area of other dental implants systems. The primary cause for cervical bone loss was identified as the bacterial colonization within the implant abutment junction which resulted in hard and soft inflammation and subsequent implant failures. Therefore, a company decision was made to design a dental implant system to address cervical bone loss, prosthetic attachments and esthetics. An especially important part of the PerioSeal™ design criteria was to incorporate the accumulated knowledge of the existing implant research principles that were known to work and correct the ones that did not work; thus, “Different For A Reason”. The following pages will highlight the similarities and differences of the PerioSeal™ Implant System to other implant systems and to conventional dentistry.

The Ferrule Attachment
The ferrule attachment is well documented in dentistry. In conventional dentistry, it refers to crowns on teeth with posts. If the crown is fabricated so it relies on the post completely, the crown will be doomed over time, much like the standard hex abutments on many implants. The prosthetic crown must encapsulate the tooth circumferentially to ensure stability and long-term success; that is, the margin of the crown must press against healthy tooth structure, or the forces of mastication over time will cause micro-movement between the crown and tooth. This micro-movement will cause a micro-gap to develop between the crown and tooth which will harbor bacteria and cause premature failure of the prostheses due to bacterial problems. Conventional dentistry demands the adherence to sound gnathological principles, and the dental profession should not deviate from them. Why should dental implantology be any different? A crown on the abutment of a dental implant should circumferentially and precisely engage the periphery of the dental implant body to prevent micro-movement between the two components: the abutment and the implant. If micro-movement should occur at the implant abutment interface, a micro-gap will develop and thus harbor bacteria which will lead to an inflammatory process about the implant and, thus, failure of the implant.

The PerioSeal™ ferrule attachment for dental implants is an external locking taper used to create a strong connection between two components. Instead of the neck of the implant having parallel walls, the neck diverges in an apical direction, permitting a ferrule interface with the prosthetic crown. As dental implantology evolves and matures, both patients and practitioners are demanding that implant designs, materials, and techniques provide a high degree of success, longevity and health with minimal re-treatments.

The PerioSeal™ Implant is designed as a conventional standard dental crown utilizing a ferrule attachment and dental cement to simplify the restorative phase of implant dentistry. This greater surface area of contact and the better distribution of occlusal force create a strong connection without a micro-gap that harbors the periodontal pathologic bacteria. With the ferrule attachment, the dental cement, and the internal collet lock engaging the implant, the connection of the PerioSeal™ Implant is significantly stronger than any standard external or internal hex connection.