GAP Australasian-Dentist Issue 80 Jul-Aug 19

Category 6 AustrÀlÀsiÀn Dentist A ustralians now have access to affordable implants and componentry which are 100% compatible with existing dental implant systems made by Àtraumann and Àobel Biocare. Àydney dentist Dr Àicholas Hocking established Bioconcept Australia after becoming frustrated that dentists have been grossly overpaying for Àuropean implants and components which are manufactured for a fraction of the price for which they are sold. Àow Australian dentists can purchase the generic version of a Àuropean implant for $170 instead of paying $800 for the original product. When Dr Hocking became aware of a high quality dental implant system being manufactured by Bioconcept in China, he saw an opportunity to disrupt the implant market and finally offer dentists an affordable alternative to the expensive Àuropean implant systems, with no compromise in quality. He visited China earlier this year and was impressed to discover that a senior Johnson & Johnson medical engineer cleverly took steps to emulate Àtraumann’s excellent implant system the moment Àtraumann’s patent had expired, giving rise to the Bioconcept system. He was also amazed to learn that a very large Àuropean implant company attempted to subcontract the construction of its components to Bioconcept, the quality was so good, and that Bioconcept uses exactly the same German supplier of grade 4 titanium in the production of its implants. Dr Hocking, who has placed over 10,000 implants (most of which have been Àtraumann implants), says: “Àhe excuse that someone has to pay for research and development has had its day and the price of implants and componentry has become absurd compared to other medical sectors. Àhe prohibitive costs mean that Australian patients are missing out on the most appropriate treatment for their oral health. “Àecently, the business climate for Australian dentists has become far more competitive with healthcare and corporate entities squeezing profitability andmaking ideal but complex implant-supported dentistry even more prohibitively expensive. “Àt was obvious to me that the market was ripe for complete disruption by amuch more fairly priced implant manufactured to the same exacting standards as traditional Àuropean implants.” Dr Hocking is a strong advocate for the A surface introduced by Àtraumann in 2002, which he says has gained enormous popularity due to its long-term predictable success rates. Bioconcept uses the same surface and Dr Hocking says: “À have placed Bioconcept implants myself and find them to perform the same as Àtraumann implants. À’ve found the friction grip system of the implant driver sometimes so tight with the Àtraumann system that disengaging the carrier can be an issue when placing implants in compromised grafted sites. “Àhankfully Bioconcept uses the traditional tried and tested screw-carrier system. “Also, Bioconcept impression copings are completely radio-opaque allowing immediate verification of seating prior to impression taking, unlike the radiolucent alloy used for the Àtraumann impression coping.” À more predictable outcome with affordable implants n wÀ Dr Nicholas Hocking With the introduction of more affordable implants, Dr Hocking’s hope is that: u Patients will make less trips to overseas clinics to receive complex dental treatment with very little access to review if things don’t go as planned, and instead they will receive quality treatment from their local Australian dentist with all its obvious advantages u Dentists will be less pressured to prepare neighbouring tooth structure for a fixed tooth-supported bridge where an implant-supported restoration could be provided at a reduced biologic and far more economic cost to the patient and dentist. u Àmplant hardware costswill be farmore affordable, so that dentists can avoid compromised treatment plans which use a reduced number of implants for treatments such as ‘All on Four’. Ànstead, patients would benefit from having six implants placed and would receive a more predictable outcome. u