If you're researching dental implants, you've probably noticed something most clinics don't mention: the brand of implant they place. Some clinics use premium global brands. Some use cheaper generic implants from less-established manufacturers. The brand difference matters more than most patients realize.
At Apex, we place Neodent implants, a brand owned by Straumann, the global leader in dental implants. Here's why we chose them, what the brand difference actually means for your long-term outcome, and how to ask any clinic which brand they place.
The implant brand landscape
Globally, dental implants are made by dozens of manufacturers, but the market is dominated by a small group of premium brands:
- Straumann (Switzerland), generally considered the gold standard. Their flagship Roxolid implants are widely cited in long-term clinical studies.
- Nobel Biocare, pioneered modern implant dentistry. Their All-on-4 protocol is the industry standard.
- Neodent, Brazilian manufacturer acquired by Straumann group. Premium quality at slightly lower cost than the Straumann flagship.
- Hiossen, BioHorizons, Zimmer Biomet, Dentsply Sirona, other major brands, varying quality tiers.
Below the premium tier are generic and value-tier brands, implants manufactured by smaller companies or in countries with less stringent regulatory oversight. These typically cost a fraction of the premium brands and are sometimes used by clinics competing on price.
Why brand actually matters
You won't see the implant. It's buried in your jaw bone, with a crown or prosthesis sitting on top. So why care about the brand?
1. Long-term clinical data
Premium brands have decades of follow-up data showing 95%+ success rates at 20+ years. Generic implants may have similar short-term performance but lack the long-term studies. When something is meant to last 25+ years in your body, you want the brand backed by 25+ years of data.
2. Surface treatment
The titanium surface of an implant is microscopically textured to encourage bone integration. Premium brands invest heavily in surface engineering. The difference between a Neodent surface and a generic surface isn't visible to the naked eye, but it materially affects how quickly and reliably the bone bonds with the implant.
3. Consistency
Premium manufacturers have tighter quality control. Every Neodent implant has the same dimensions, torque tolerance, and surface treatment. With generic brands, lot-to-lot variability is higher, and that variability can affect surgical outcomes.
4. Component compatibility
If you ever need a crown replaced, an abutment changed, or a component repaired 15 years from now, premium brands maintain backward compatibility. Generic implants from smaller manufacturers may go out of business, leaving you with a system that no one stocks parts for.
5. Surgeon training
Top-tier surgeons train extensively on premium brands. The instruments, drilling protocols, and surgical workflows are all optimized for the specific implant system. Using a generic implant means deviating from those proven protocols.
Why specifically Neodent
Neodent sits in a very specific spot in the market: Straumann group quality at a more accessible price point.
Neodent was founded in Brazil in the 1990s and acquired by Straumann in 2012. Since acquisition, Neodent has been integrated into Straumann's global supply chain, surface treatment science, and clinical research network. The implants are manufactured to Straumann standards, but priced more accessibly than the Straumann flagship.
For our practice model, high-quality care at transparent, affordable pricing, Neodent is the right fit. We can pass the cost difference to patients (our $12,500 All-on-4 vs $25,000 at clinics using Straumann flagship) without compromising on the underlying implant quality.
What we do NOT use, and why
We don't use generic or value-tier implants. Even though they'd let us drop our pricing further, we wouldn't feel comfortable placing them in our patients. The risk-reward doesn't work:
- Maybe save $200 per implant in materials cost
- Risk: 5–10% higher long-term failure rate
- Risk: component compatibility issues 15+ years out
- Risk: lower long-term clinical evidence
For a procedure meant to last decades, we'd rather hold the line on quality and find pricing efficiency elsewhere, through volume, transparency, and lower marketing overhead.
How to ask any clinic which brand they use
If you're consulting at multiple clinics, ask this exact question:
“What brand and model of implant do you place? Is it Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Neodent, or another manufacturer?”
You'll learn a lot from the response:
- Confident, specific answer (e.g. “We place Neodent Drive CM”), good sign. The clinic invests in premium brands and trains specifically on them.
- Vague answer (e.g. “FDA-approved implants”), concerning. They may be using a value-tier brand they don't want to name.
- Refusal to specify, significant red flag. The brand is a basic technical detail that any specialty center should disclose.
What to look for at consultation
At your free consultation, ask about:
- Implant brand and model (you should get a specific answer)
- Surface treatment (premium brands have proprietary surface technology)
- Manufacturer warranty (Neodent fixtures carry a manufacturer's lifetime warranty against defects)
- How long the clinic has used this brand
Schedule your free consultation: (916) 886-1806 or book online. We're happy to show you the actual Neodent implant samples and explain the surface engineering at your visit.