Fall 2004 CRA surveyed CRA Newsletter readers for their experience with implants. 2274 dentists completed and returned the survey. 81 reported on 2 or more implant systems. Thank you to all who responded. Below are 1. Survey sent, and 2. Survey results.

Click on a question to go to the results

Implant Survey 2004

CRA is interested in your clinical experience with implants and would appreciate your responses to the following questions. Questions on this survey should be answered for the implant brand identified in question 6 only. If you use more than 1 implant system routinely, please photo copy this survey for each brand used.

  1. Year graduated from dental school:____________________
  2. City and state where I practice:_____________________
  3. Type of practice:
    1. General
    2. Endodontist
    3. Oral Surgeon
    4. Periodontist
    5. Prosthodontist
    6. Other (Specify) __________________________
  4. Number of years I have been involved with implant dentistry:_________
  5. I accomplish:
    1. both surgical and prosthodontic implant procedures
    2. implant surgery only
    3. implant prosthodontics
  6. I have used the_________________________________(list company and brand name) implant system for________ years.

    7. (This is the implant system for which all subsequent questions apply.)

  7. Reasons I have chosen to use this brand of implant are:______________________________________________________

The next several questions are for those doing surgery. (If you do only implant prosthodontics, go to question 23).

  1. Organization of the surgical kit is:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  2. Instructions from the company are:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  3. Instruments provided by the company are:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  4. Implant placement is:
    1. simple
    2. moderately difficult
    3. difficult
  5. I have placed about _________(number) of ______________________________ (brand name) implants.
  6. About _______ % of the implants placed in adequate bone were loaded immediately.
  7. About _______ % of the implants placed in extraction sockets were loaded immediately.
    1. Was the bone grafted? Y N
    2. What brand of bone graft was used?_________________________
  8. About _________ % of the implants have failed and had to be removed.
  9. I have noticed coronal bone loss of more than 1 millimeter around ____________% of the implants.
  10. About _________ % of the implants have been placed using one-stage surgery technique.
  11. If you do one-stage implant placement, answer the following question:
    One stage surgery has been successful on ____________% of the implants.
  12. Technical support from the company has been:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  13. I _________ prefer this brand over other brands I have used when considered from a surgical standpoint.
    1. do
    2. do not
  14. I _________ continue to use this brand of implant when considered from a surgical standpoint.
    1. will
    2. will not

The next several questions are for those doing implant prosthodontics. (If you only do surgery, you are finished with the questionnaire).

  1. Organization of the prosthodontic kit is:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  2. Instructions from the company are:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  3. Instruments provided by the company are:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  4. Use of the prosthodontic components is:
    1. simple
    2. moderately difficult
    3. difficult
  5. I have restored about _______ (number) of _______________________________ (brand name) implants.
  6. Technical support from the company is:
    1. excellent
    2. good
    3. fair
    4. poor
  7. When using this brand of implant I use:
    1. custom laboratory-made abutments__________ % of the time
    2. manufacturer abutments ___________ % of the time
  8. I have had about _________ % of the abutments come loose from the implant, however they were tightened and remained in service.
  9. I have had _________ % of the abutments fail in service.
  10. I prefer this brand over other brands from a prosthodontic standpoint.
    1. do
    2. do not
  11. I _________ continue to use this brand of implant when considered from a prosthodontic standpoint.
    1. will
    2. will not
  12. How do you secure prostheses to abutments?

    13. (If cement is used please indicate company and brand name.)

    1. single unit crown:_____________________________________
    2. multi-unit prostheses:_________________________________

Survey Results

General Information

  1. Years of practice:
    • Range..................................2-62 years
    • Average................................26.3 years
  2. Practice location:
    • United States..............................94.5%
    • Canada.........................................3.5%
    • Other Countries.............................2.0%
  3. Type of practice:
    • General Practitioner.....................96.4%
    • Prosthodontist...............................2.4%
    • Periodontist...................................0.5%
    • Other and Not Identified..................0.3%
    • Oral Surgeon...............................0.04%
  4. Years of implant experience:
    • Range...................................1-40 years
    • Average.................................12.7 years
  5. Dentists performed following related to implants:
    • Prosthodontics only......................81.0%
    • Both prosthodontics and surgery....18.2%
    • Implant surgery only.......................0.8%
  6. Overall implant systems reported used most:
    • Straumann ITI...............................18.7%
    • 3i.................................................17.3%
    • Nobel Biocare...............................13.5%
    • Branemark.....................................7.3%
    • Sterioss.........................................6.6%
    • Zimmer..........................................6.4%
    • Replace Select...............................5.5%
    • Bicon.............................................3.3%
    • AstraTech.......................................3.1%
    • Lifecore..........................................2.4%
    • BioHorizons.....................................2.1%
    • Other brands < 2.0%......................13.8%
  7. Reasons I have chosen to use this brand of implant are:
    • Straumann ITI...............................................easy, simple
    • 3i.......................research, good company, surgeon choice
    • Nobel Biocare...........................reputation, surgeon choice
    • Branemark................................................surgeon choice
    • Sterioss...............................easy, simple, surgeon choice
    • Zimmer...................surgeon choice, internal hex/connector
    • Replace Select.............................................easy, simple
    • Bicon...........................................................easy, simple
    • BioHorizions.................................................easy, simple

Responses to surgical questions by General Dentists only

  • When accomplishing surgery only, implant brands most used were:
    • Nobel Biocare................................15.2%
    • Replace Select..............................11.9%
    • BioHorizions....................................8.8%
    • Zimmer...........................................8.6%
    • Sterioss..........................................7.3%
    • Bicon..............................................6.3%
    • 3i....................................................6.1%
    • Straumann.......................................6.1%
  1. In general, organization of surgical kits was:
    • Excellent.......................................61.1%
    • Good.............................................34.8%
    • Fair.................................................4.1%
    • Poor................................................0.0%
    • 2 systems reported* excellent most: BioHorizions and Sterioss
  2. In general, surgery instructions from company were:
    • Excellent.......................................57.8%
    • Good.............................................36.8%
    • Fair.................................................4.6%
    • Poor................................................0.8%
    • 2 systems reported* excellent most: BioHorizions and Straumann
  3. In general, surgical instruments provided by company were:
    • Excellent.......................................66.2%
    • Good.............................................30.9%
    • Fair.................................................2.6%
    • Poor................................................0.3%
    • 2 systems reported* excellent most: BioHorizions and Bicon
  4. In general, implant placement with system used was:
    • Simple............................................83.0%
    • Moderately difficult...........................16.7%
    • Difficult.............................................0.3%
    • 2 systems reported* excellent most: Straumann and Bicon
  5. Back
    Brand# Implants Placed Overall Range# Implants Placed Middle 50% of Respondents
    Replace Select1-5006-100
    Nobel Biocare2-150014-100
    Sterioss12-70030-200
    Zimmer7-100040-500
    BioHorizons1-100011-200
    Bicon3-120025-100
    Straumann6-65025-250
    3i1-20020-100
    Basic1-2003-15
    Imtec1-7005-60
  6. When adequate bone was present, immediate implant loading was accomplished 11.8% of the time.
  7. 6% of implants placed into extraction sites were reported as loaded immediately and 72% of the time bone was grafted.
    • Bone graft materials reported most used were:
    • Grafton..............................................17.4%
    • PepGen P-15.....................................14.9%
    • Bio-Oss.............................................14.0%
    • Puros..................................................9.9%
    • DynaGraft............................................6.6%
    • Bioplant...............................................5.8%
    • Autogenous.........................................5.0%
    • Osteograf.............................................5.0%
  8. 3.3% of implants were reported ad failed and removed.
  9. Coronal bone loss of more then 1mm was observed around 18.9% of implants.
  10. 39% of implants placed were accomplished using a one-stage surgery technique.
  11. 93% of implants placed using one-stage surgery technique were successful.
  12. Surgical technical support from implant companies was:
    • Excellent...........................................57.0%
    • Good.................................................36.0%
    • Fair.....................................................5.9%
    • Poor....................................................1.1%
    • 2 systems reported* excellent most: BioHorizion and Bicon
  13. 89% of dentists reported that current brand of implant placed was prefered from a surgical standpoint.
  14. 95% of dentists stated they will continue to place current brand of implant.

    15. *NOTE: For responses B9-12 and B20, brands listed are from product list at the beginning of section B


Responses to prosthodontic questions by General Dentists only

  • When accomplishing implant prosthodontics only, implant brands most used were:
    • Straumann ITI......................................19.1%
    • 3i........................................................17.4%
    • Nobel Biocare......................................13.2%
    • Branemark............................................7.5%
    • Sterioss................................................6.9%
    • Zimmer.................................................6.5%
    • Replace Select......................................5.5%
  1. In general, organization of prosthodontic kits was:
    • Excellent.............................................33.3%
    • Good...................................................53.6%
    • Fair.....................................................11.1%
    • Poor......................................................1.7%
    • 2 systems reported† excellent most: Straumann and Replace Select
  2. In general, prosthodontic instructions from the companies were:
    • Excellent.............................................43.5%
    • Good...................................................47.1%
    • Fair.......................................................8.5%
    • Poor......................................................0.9%
    • 2 systems reported† excellent most: Straumann and Replace Select
  3. In general, prosthodontic instrumentation acceptability was:
    • Excellent.............................................51.0%
    • Good...................................................45.1%
    • Fair.......................................................3.7%
    • Poor......................................................0.3%
    • 2 systems reported† excellent most: Straumann and Replace Select
  4. In general, level of difficulty using prosthodontic components was:
    • Simple.................................................83.7%
    • Moderate difficulty.................................15.8%
    • Difficult..................................................0.5%
    • 2 systems reported† excellent most: Straumann and Replace Select
  5. Back
    Brand# Implants Placed Overall Range# Implants Placed Middle 50% of Respondents
    Straumann1-210020-100
    3i1-100020-100
    Nobel Biocare1-600020-150
    Branemark3-300020-150
    Zimmer4-300030-150
    Sterioss5-250030-100
  6. Technical support supplied from company was:
    • Excellent.............................................53.4%
    • Good...................................................41.2%
    • Fair.......................................................5.0%
    • Poor......................................................0.5%
    • 2 systems reported† excellent most: Straumann and 3i
  7. Percent of implants restored with:
    • custom abutments.................................45.8%
    • manufacturer abutments.........................54.2%
  8. 3% of abutments loosened but were tightened and remained in service.
  9. 1% of abutments have failed.
  10. 86% of dentists reported that current brand of implant placed was preferred from a prosthodontic standpoint.
  11. 98% of dentists stated they will continue to place their current brand of implant.
  12. Back.
    1. Single unit crown
      • Kerr Temp Bond.................17.0%
      • 3M Rely X..........................14.6%
      • Improv.................................9.6%
      • 3M Rely X Luting..................8.6%
      • Screw.................................8.0%
      • Durelon...............................6.2%
      • Cement...............................5.4%
      • Fuji Cem.............................5.3%
    2. Multi-unit prostheses
      • Kerr Temp Bond.................19.2%
      • Screw................................16.2%
      • 3M Rely X..........................12.9%
      • Improv.................................9.0%
      • 3M Rely X Luting..................5.9%
      • Cement...............................5.9%
      • Durelon................................5.7%
      • Fuji Cem..............................4.8%

    † NOTE: For responses C23-26 and C28, brands listed are from product list at the beginning of section C.