Tapered Pro
Tapered Pro pairs the tapered body and Laser-Lok collar with BioHorizons' established internal hex connection, the platform a great many existing BioHorizons patients already have.
At a glance
- Connection type
- Internal hex
- Collar
- Laser-Lok microchannels
- Body shape
- Tapered
- Implant surface
- RBT
- Platform coding
- Colour-coded, see Tapered Internal
- Typical use
- General restorative work across most sites
What an internal hex connection is
A six-sided post seats into a matching socket inside the implant. The hex stops the abutment rotating; a screw holds it down. It is the most widely used connection design in implant dentistry and has decades of clinical history behind it.
Conical connections have advantages in sealing and load distribution, which is why newer systems favour them. But a well-made internal hex is a proven, entirely adequate design, and its ubiquity means components are widely available. This is not a compromise choice.
The Laser-Lok element
A band of microscopic laser-cut grooves around the implant collar, sized so gum connective tissue fibres physically anchor into them instead of sliding down the metal. BioHorizons states this creates a biological seal that protects the bone beneath, and cites a controlled multi-centre study reporting 70 % less bone loss at 37 months than identical implants without it. That research is largely manufacturer-funded, the full picture is on our BioHorizons brand page.
Where this sits in the range
Tapered Pro is best understood as the bridge between BioHorizons' older Tapered Internal line and the newer Tapered Pro Conical. It brings the current body geometry and collar technology to the connection the practice may already be stocked for. If your dentist has placed BioHorizons implants for years, this is likely the platform they know best.
Questions worth asking your dentist
- Is this the internal hex or the conical Tapered Pro?
- Does this implant have the Laser-Lok collar?
- Which colour-coded platform will I have?
- Would the conical version suit my case better, and why or why not?
- What diameter and length are you planning?
- Will you record connection type, platform and reference number in writing?
Related systems
Tapered Pro Conical
The same design on a conical connection.
Tapered Internal
The predecessor line, still widely placed.
References
- BioHorizons. Tapered Pro Catalog. Document L01064 Rev D.
- BioHorizons. Tapered Pro Detail Sheet. Document L02056 Rev B.
- BioHorizons. Laser-Lok Microchannels: Clinical Overview. Document ML0606 Rev J.
Specifications compiled from BioHorizons's publicly available product literature and Canadian product pages. Manufacturer performance claims are identified as such. DentalImplantInfo.ca is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by BioHorizons. BioHorizons, Laser-Lok, Tapered Pro, Tapered Internal, Tapered Short, Tapered PTG and RBT are trademarks of their respective owners, used here for identification and educational purposes.