Dental News - Interview: Osstell’s technology remains the definitive method for understanding implant stability

Search Dental Tribune

Interview: Osstell’s technology remains the definitive method for understanding implant stability

Prof. Neil Meredith. (Photograph: Prof. Neil Meredith)
Dental Tribune International

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 10. September 2019

save

At the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO 2019), Prof. Neil Meredith will be one of three speakers at the Osstell Scientific Symposium. He has been placing and restoring dental implants for over 30 years and is a co-inventor of resonance frequency analysis (RFA) for dental implants, the diagnostic technique that led to the formation of Swedish company Osstell. Currently, he works as Professor of Prosthodontics at the University of Queensland’s School of Dentistry in Brisbane in Australia and Professor of Dental Science at James Cook University’s College of Medicine and Dentistry in Townsville in Australia. He has lectured and published widely and internationally, but his real passions are clinical patient treatment and teaching. He spoke with Dental Tribune International about the upcoming symposium and Osstell Connect, and looked back on 25 years of Osstell’s company history.

Prof. Meredith, you will be giving a lecture titled “Osstell Connect: The key to unlocking clinical success” at the Osstell symposium at EAO 2019. On what topics will you focus during your presentation?
Osstell’s technology has been used as the definitive method for clinical measurement of implant stability for over 20 years. It is widely accepted as a clinical measurement technique to guide treatment choices, as well as an academic method for comparisons in studies and research. In addition to being reported on in over a thousand scientific publications, tens of thousands of clinicians worldwide use Osstell’s technology routinely every day in their clinical practice.

The world today is about data, its collection and its use in every aspect of our lives. It is impressive that Osstell Connect is the only dental technology available to collect, process and present data on a worldwide basis to every Osstell user to help him or her achieve the highest levels of clinical success and support in clinical audit. Data is measured with instruments like Osstell Beacon or Osstell IDx, and uploaded to a global database. This not only enables clinicians to save their data securely and in a user-friendly format, without the need for local notes or backup, but the database tracks each patient, providing useful graphs and information.

Osstell Connect provides more than data connected to individual clinicians but will also enable them to compare worldwide information about patients, techniques, implant systems, grafting and much more.

As a clinician, how has your personal experience with Osstell Connect been?
Very good! Osstell Beacon is very simple to use but is still a sophisticated instrument. On its own, it displays ISQ [Implant Stability Quotient] values for both directions, which is essential. In addition, a coloured indicator displays green (good), amber and red (caution). Data is sent seamlessly via Bluetooth to the Osstell Connect database open on the computer. Osstell Connect is a very easy and useful way of saving and tracking patient data. It presents useful graphs and also allows comparison of data with overall and worldwide information.

Scroll down
advertisement

Being a Web-based database, Osstell Connect does not require the clinician to do a backup or software update, since this is performed centrally by Osstell, ensuring reliability.

How has the device been received by users so far, and what can dental practitioners expect from it in the future?
Osstell Beacon has been very well received. Clinicians are impressed that such a compact instrument can be so sophisticated and yet remain very easy to use. As it is wireless, recharging is simply done via a USB-C socket and it has a great battery life.

Beacon is excellent as a stand-alone instrument, but with Osstell Connect, it is so easy to capture data. This gives clinicians access to a very powerful online database and also provides a simple way for them to download and analyse their own data. There is an ever-increasing demand on clinicians to record as much patient information as possible for legal and audit purposes. Osstell Beacon and Connect form a ready-made, internationally recognised platform designed to assist the clinician. In addition, Osstell Connect is supplied without charge.

As the database grows, Osstell Connect will offer statistics and information collated from its worldwide database that will enable every clinician to identify the best techniques, materials and systems to achieve the highest level of success for his or her patients.

The Osstell Scientific Symposium will be held under the theme “Evidence-based guidance for implant loading—sharing knowledge for predictable treatment outcomes”. What would you say dentists can look forward to?
The Osstell symposium has become a tradition at the EAO meeting, welcoming internationally recognised clinicians and experts not only to share in the benefits of Osstell but also to see how clinical techniques can be optimised and enhanced. I believe that this meeting will be pivotal in demonstrating how, for the first time, real-world clinical data can benefit us all in the treatment of our patients.

As co-inventor of RFA and Osstell, looking back over two decades, what would you say about how the technique and company have evolved?
Osstell’s technology was developed 25 years ago, utilising RFA to measure implant stability. Implant stability has always been of interest to clinicians and academics as a means of measuring osseointegration. Osstell has refined ISQ measurements into a highly accurate and repeatable method of measuring implant stability. By continual research and development, it has developed state-of-the-art technology, currently culminating in Osstell Beacon. Balancing the development of technology with a close affiliation with clinicians and academics alike ensures that Osstell’s technology remains the definitive method for measuring and understanding implant stability.

Thank you very much for the interview.

The company is inviting all attendees of EAO 2019 to join the 11th annual Osstell Scientific Symposium at EAO 2019 in Lisbon on 26 September (10:15–12:15). The symposium features four distinguished speakers: Prof. Neil Meredith (Australia), co-inventor of RFA and Osstell; Dr Jeffrey Ganeles (US); Dr Barry Levin (US); and Dr Marcus Dagnelid (Sweden), moderator. The speakers will discuss “Evidence-based guidance for implant loading—sharing knowledge for predictable treatment outcomes”. Those interested in attending can find more information on and register for the event at content.osstell.com/eao.

One thought on “Interview: Osstell’s technology remains the definitive method for understanding implant stability

  1. Cristina Torres says:

    I appreciate this contribution to the implants surgeries, I look forward to having my Osstell and being part of this universe

To post a reply please login or register
advertisement
advertisement