Tapered Tissue Level
BioHorizons' tissue-level option, placing the restorative joint above the bone in the gum. It is an interesting design pairing, because Laser-Lok and tissue-level placement are two different solutions aimed at the same problem.
At a glance
- Placement level
- Tissue level, joint sits above bone
- Body shape
- Tapered
- Collar
- Laser-Lok
- Surgery
- One-stage, no second uncovering procedure
- Best suited to
- Posterior sites with adequate gum thickness
- Less suited to
- Visible front teeth with thin gum tissue
Tissue level, briefly
On a tissue-level implant a smooth collar carries the implant-abutment junction up out of the bone and into the gum. Because the top is already exposed when it heals, no second operation is needed to uncover it. The junction, the microscopic gap where bacteria collect, ends up away from the bone rather than at it. Our Straumann page has a diagram comparing this with bone-level placement.
The interesting overlap
Tissue-level design and Laser-Lok are both attempts to protect the bone at the top of the implant. Tissue level does it geometrically, by moving the junction away from the bone. Laser-Lok does it biologically, by getting gum tissue to seal against the collar. Combining them is a reasonable belt-and-braces approach, though it also means the specific contribution of either one is harder to isolate in this configuration.
The polished collar sits at the gum margin. Where gum is thin or the tooth is visible when you smile, recession can expose a grey line. This is the standard reason to prefer a bone-level implant at the front of the mouth. For a molar, it rarely matters.
Questions worth asking your dentist
- Why tissue level rather than bone level for this tooth?
- Is this tooth visible when I smile, and what happens if the gum recedes?
- Does this avoid a second uncovering surgery?
- Does the implant carry the Laser-Lok collar?
- What diameter and length are you planning?
- Will you record the system, platform and reference number in writing?
Related systems
Tapered Internal
The bone-level workhorse alternative.
Tapered Short
For limited bone height.
References
- BioHorizons. Tapered Tissue Level Catalog. Document ML0175 Rev A.
- BioHorizons. Tapered Family Catalog & Manual. Document L02024 Rev H.
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.