LEARN TO CHARACTERIZE IMPLANTS

CORONAL

external

External connections, radiographically, appear as a protrusion at the shoulder of the implant. You might also notice that the internal threads begin more coronally.

internal

The internal connection is flat at the shoulder of the implant. you will see a thin wall surrounding the coronal portion of the implant. Threads often start more apically.

unique

While most implants have an external and internal hex, other systems have created some unique connections. Some examples are the spline (seen to the left) and the internal tri-lobe of nobel biocare.

wider

The flange is wider than the implant body. There is an abrupt transition from the body to the flange.

straight

The flange is the same width as the implant body, with a straight transition between the two.

flared

The flange is wider than the implant body, but there is a smooth transition from the implant body to the flange.

apical chamber

This is where the implant shoulder angles inward toward the abutment interface.

MID-BODY

tapered

The implant body is wider at the coronal portion and narrower at the apex.

non-tapered

The width of the implant is the same at the coronal portion and the apex.

tapered apex

The mid-body is not tapered, while the apex is tapered.

threaded

The implant body has threads somewhere along it's body, often along the entire length of its body.

non-threaded

The implant body has no threads, just smooth walls.

v-shaped threads

The threads are pointed with both lengths being equal (as opposed to reverse buttress threads).

square threads

The threads are not pointed, but square in profile.

reverse buttress

Threads are also pointed, but one side of the threads is longer than the other side.

rounded threads

The threads are rounded, rather than pointed or square.

midbody grooves

Grooves can be horizontal or vertical. Vertical grooves on the midbody can be difficult to see radiographically (would appear as vertical radiolucent lines).

APICAL

v-shaped apex

The apex has two flat sides forming a point, whether it is pointed or blunted.

flat apex

The apex is flat when viewed in profile.

curved apex

The apex is curved/rounded.

open apex

An open apex refers to a hole through the underside of the implant. Radiographically, it appears as a more radiolucent band that touches the apex.

round hole

Holes appear in various ways radiographically, they can appear as radiolucent circles when the radiograph is taken perpendicular to the circle or as a radiolucent band if taken parellel to it.

oblong hole

Same radiographic characteristics as the round hole, but oblong instead of a circle.

apical chamber

Refers to there being space inside the implant (hollow space). Seen radiographically as radiolucent areas. these chambers are connected to holes.

apical grooves

These appear as radiolucencies at the apex (like the image shown to the left). The implant may have 2-4 or more grooves (number of grooves are not apparent radiographically).

Whatimplantisthat.com is a free resource to the dental profession. We are in the business of trying to help you identify dental implants through merely looking at your patient's radiographs. You would be surprised at how many unique characteristics implants have that can differentiate them from the thousands of implants out there. Take a good quality x-ray and search through the hundreds of images we have to identify the implant radiographically.

NEW TO THE SITE

Read through this tutorial to better understand how to classify your radiograph. This is where we calibrate you by explaining how we decided whether the implant has a wider flange versus a flared flange.

REFERENCES

We had some help coming up with some of the classifications and were inspired to create this site through the works of some other practitioners. Please take a moment to see who inspired this project.