Richard J. Lazzara,
DMD, MScD
Chairman

Dear Colleagues:

We have considered bone loss to the first thread of externally hexed implants to be associated with the normal development of the biologic width around dental implants. This bone loss was of concern in situations when we could only place short implants or in the aestheticzone where bone preservation is needed to optimally support the papillae and buccal gingiva.

For a number of years, we have observed the clinical benefits of Platform Switching; a situation where implant restorative components have smaller diameter platforms than the corresponding implant restorative platforms.The potential benefit of Platform Switching involves greater bone-to-implant contact in and around the Implant-Abutment Junction (IAJ) because the location is changed. The IAJ is moved from the outside diameter of the implant to a more medial horizontal position. This results in a potentially different position of the bone in relation to the top of the implant. These benefits may be particularly helpful in areas that require support form axillary interproximal papillae and midfacial buccal bone height to support the gingivae, around short implants and in areas where smaller prosthetic dimensions are necessary relative to implant size.

In this issue of Clinical Perspectives, Joseph Carpentieri, DDS, a prosthodontist and his surgical colleague, Christopher Lane, DDS, both from White Plains, NY, share a clinical case illustrating the restoration of a single tooth with the new Certain® PREVAIL® Implant with a Full OSSEOTITE® Surface. This implant is specifically designed to take advantage of the clinical benefits of Platform Switching, while eliminating potential confusionof matching component selection. By incorporating Platform Switching into the design of this new implantsystem, it allows us the continued benefits such as normal flow of components, color-coding of implants and abutments, as well as straight forward component selection. Additionally, The Full OSSEOTITE Surface (FOSS) is designed to increase the surface area of the coronal aspect of the implant for increased bone-to-implant contact at the crestal portion of the osteotomy.

I am confident that you will see the benefits in this new implant design and how it can potentially enhance theclinical treatment of patients. The built in Platform Switching concept in the Certain PREVAIL Implant System will also simplify utilization of this technique for our restorative and dental laboratory colleagues.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Lazzara, DMD, MScD
Chairman