What Makes zimmer biomet's trabecular metal material different?
Titanium has long been the gold standard for dental implant materials due to its proven ability to integrate to bone. But what if bone could grow not just onto the implant material, but also deep into its interconnected pores? Dr. Edgard El Chaar, Director of the Advanced Program in Periodontics at NYU College of Dentistry, explains what makes Zimmer Biomet’s Trabecular Metal Material different, and why the highly porous biomaterial has been the key to long-term implant success for his patients in both function and esthetics.
Q: When did you first discover Trabecular Metal technology?
A: I was one of the first practitioners to use Trabecular Metal for an implant placement back in 2012, shortly after Zimmer Biomet added the technology to its dental portfolio. So, I’ve had the privilege to see the project from concept to production and take part in discussions on how to engineer the material. Since then, I’ve placed nearly 800 Trabecular Metal implants.
Q: What makes this technology unique?
A: Trabecular Metal is not an implant surface or coating— it’s a unique, 3-dimensional, and highly porous biomaterial made from elemental tantalum that exhibits structural and functional properties similar to bone. What makes it a truly unbelievable concept is the way it creates a solid scaffold that allows existing bone and tissue to grow right into its pores. In layman’s terms, it’s like a tree trunk with branches growing into the ground to hold it in place.
Q: How has the success rate been with your implant cases?
A: There’s a big difference between survivability and success. Survivability relates to how the implant survives with very little bone around it. But success is about preserving the bone and the esthetics that come with it. I exclusively placed Trabecular Metal implants from 2012 to 2016 and had a 97.2% rate of success.
Q: Why does dentistry need a material like this?
A: When you look at the current literature, the typical implant success rate is around 92%. This accounts for the 5% to 7% of people who have bone complications and poor bone quality, which can lead to lack of integration. Because the strength of the bone ultimately determines whether or not it will hold the implant, Trabecular Metal gives another option to the clinician that was missing before, especially when it comes to the nonideal patient.