Pros:
Ease of use
Stability and strength
Cons:
According to Zimmer, the single-stage protocol saves time while resulting in less soft-tissue trauma and discomfort. The tapered body, available in a range of diameters and lengths, and in straight and angled versions, enables placement in all tooth locations. A full complement of contour components (including color-coded, snap-on impression caps) is intended to facilitate and simplify the restoration process. Six dentists participated in this Dental Product Shopper evaluation of the Zimmer Dental One-Piece Implant. They rated such features as ease of use, stability and strength, and versatility.
Ease of Use
Ease of use of the Zimmer Dental One-Piece Implant was rated as excellent by 2 evaluators, as very good by 3, and as fair by 1. One dentist noted that it was “extremely easy to place and was only slightly technique-sensitive in that it had to be aligned properly to achieve the desired results.”
Stability and Strength
According to Zimmer, the titanium alloy construction of the One-Piece Implant provides maximum strength and stability, eliminating micromovement. Two dentists rated stability and strength as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One evaluator said crestal bone resorption was minimal and noted that the implant was “as strong as any two-stage implant after it was fully integrated.”
Versatility
Because the Zimmer One-Piece Implant and the Tapered Screw-Vent have common body designs and similar drilling sequences, clinicians can alter their treatment plans (between one- and two-piece implants) at any time during planning or placement. The 3.7-mm and 4.7-mm One-Piece Implants are indicated for all tooth locations, and a 3.0-mm implant allows placement in the maxillary laterals, mandibular laterals, and central incisors. When asked to rate the implant’s versatility, 1 evaluator rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good or good, and 1 rated it as fair.
Immediate Loading Ability and Bone Apposition
The design of the Zimmer One- Piece Implant (based on that of the Tapered Screw-Vent) enables immediate provisionalization and/or loading. Zimmer states that the proprietary MTX surface allows for increased bone apposition and promotes osteoconductive capacity.
One dentist noted that the implant he placed “integrated well,” adding that he “immediately loaded it well out of occlusion.” One evaluator rated immediate loading ability as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as fair. Bone apposition was rated as excellent by 1 dentist, as very good by 3, as good by 1, and as fair by 1.
Overall Satisfaction and Esthetics
When asked about overall satisfaction with the Zimmer One-Piece Implant, 2 evaluators rated it as excellent, 3 rated it as very good or good, and 1 rated it as fair. Esthetics were rated as very good or good by all 6 evaluators, and patient satisfaction was rated as excellent by 1 evaluator, as very good by 4, and as fair by 1. One evaluator said “the margins on the Zimmer One-Piece Implant make it light years ahead of its competitors.” Four evaluators said they would definitely purchase the implant, 1 said he probably would, and 1 wasn’t sure. One dentist was “pleased with the implant and result, and would consider using it again, if it weren’t slightly more costly than other one-piece implants.”
