A few of my Perios have received invitations to a Zimmer trabecular impant symposium recently. One of them plans on attending. Does anyone know if this thing really allows bone to grow IN to the implant? The Zimmer rep told my perio that it is coming over from ZImmer ortho with years of human data. He said that the implant will be stable after 2 weeks with final crown being able to be placed at 4 to 6 weeks after implant placement. This will KILL my implant business as all gp's want new "teeth" as fast as possible so their patients pay for their next set of implants and get paid faster.
A) Does Zimmer ortho really have such an "amazing" implant made of trabecular?
B) Does Zimmer Dental really expect to launch this thing anytime soon?
Thanks!
I think it is not going to make an impact in Implant Dentistry the implant would be somewhat porous. What happens if it becomes exposed to the oral environment. Orthopedics is a closed system.
Zimmer® Trabecular Metal™ Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the advantage of Trabecular Metal Technology over other joint replacement materials?
In addition to being the orthopaedic metal that more closely resembles the physical and mechanical properties of healthy bone, Zimmer Trabecular Metal Technology has been clinically shown to have several advantages over other implant materials:
•Greater initial stability.
•Allows rapid and extensive bone in-growth1,3
Why is bone in-growth important?
Joint and spine surgery and bone replacement involves removing or resurfacing damaged surfaces and restoring them with artificial implants. Implants are secured to human bone in one of two ways – they are either cemented (cement is used to secure the implant to the bone) or cementless (natural human bone grows into, or heals directly to, the artificial implant). Several factors determine which method is used; most notably the quality of the natural bone to which the implant must adhere. Trabecular Metal Implants have the porosity and structure that allows for extensive bone in-growth, which creates a bond between the implant and the bone, and eliminates the need for bone cement. For patients who have acceptable bone quality, cementless techniques are the preferable way to attach implants to existing human bone.
Why is porosity important in an implant?
Bone is living tissue that grows into your implant, incorporating it into your body. The more porous the implant material – in other words, the more nooks and crannies – the more space is available for bone to grow in and secure the implant. Whereas other materials used for orthopaedic implants are only 35 percent to 50 percent porous, Trabecular Metal material is 75-80 percent porous.1,2,3.
Why is flexibility important?
Although sturdy, healthy human bone has a certain degree of flexibility to withstand the body’s weight, and daily wear and tear. Trabecular Metal Implants possess flexibility similar to bone, whereas other implant materials are far more rigid. Studies have indicated that implant materials that don’t flex well can cause bones to recede and lose strength over time 5,6,7.
How is Trabecular Metal Material used?
Trabecular Metal material is used in hundreds of hip, knee, shoulder and spine implants. Zimmer, a global leader in orthopaedics, is the only company that offers this material. Whereas other porous joint replacement materials can only be coated or sprayed onto orthopaedic implants, Trabecular Metal material can be used to create an entire implant. This material also may be infused or bonded to other types of implants in the areas that come in contact with your natural bone, to allow bone in-growth. Trabecular Metal Implants are placed by orthopaedic surgeons via traditional joint replacement surgery and Zimmer’s less-invasive Minimally Invasive Solutions™ (MIS™) techniques.
