I-System implants

Modern dentistry uses different implants, both by design and by manufacturer. Patients often ask: “which implant should I choose?” But the truth is that implants are chosen not by patients, but by doctors, based on a whole range of factors and the clinical situation.

Still, for many patients it is important to know exactly which implant the doctor recommends and why. At Dr. Osadchiy’s Clinic, we often recommend I-System implants because of the unique qualities of these systems. Let’s look closely and in detail at what I-System implants are, where they are used and why.

I-System is a Swiss dental implant brand. The manufacturer offers a wide range of implants that can be used in different clinical cases. But, as a rule, patients come for implantation when they have problems with bone availability. Simply put: the bone volume is insufficient for placement of a classic screw-type implant.

This is where I-System’s specialization becomes clear. Their developments are mainly aimed at such cases, and the most popular are I-System Plateau implants: not screw-type, but short implants that can be placed when bone availability is minimal.

In this sense, I-System implants cannot be called mass-market or widely popular; they are rather unique implants used in complex cases.

I-System implants by design

Screw-type implants

Classic implants that resemble a screw. Additional threads provide a larger contact area between the implant and the bone, which in turn increases the chances of osseointegration, meaning integration into bone.

These implants are often used in standard clinical cases when there is enough bone tissue and its condition does not cause concern.

I-System Plateau implants

The key position in the I-System range is Plateau-system implants. Instead of classic threading, the implants have horizontal levels, or plateaus, between which zones of new bone tissue growth are formed.

Plateau-system implants have square fins that provide optimal load distribution on the jaw. In addition, they increase the contact area between the implant and bone, which is also very important for integration of the structure.

These implants have other design features as well: anti-rotational channels that prevent the implant from rotating and promote better blood supply, or vascularization, of the bone, which accelerates healing.

It is also worth noting the tightness of the connection between the implant and the abutment, the connector for the crown. I-System uses an ultra-precise 1.5° conical connection that creates a “cold welding” effect. This connection almost completely eliminates micro-mobility of the structure and bacterial penetration into the implant. For the patient, this is especially important because it reduces the risk of inflammation around the implant.

These implants are used in cases when bone availability is insufficient. In such cases, many doctors recommend bone grafting surgeries, often called “bone augmentation.” But it is important to remember that the implant must be fully placed in native, or the patient’s own, bone. It is impossible to obtain native bone with bone-grafting materials that fully matches the structure of the patient’s bone. In addition, procedures of this type can cause a number of complications.

In such cases, the solution at Dr. Osadchiy’s Clinic is I-System Plateau implants. They can be integrated even into thin bone; the additional plates provide a larger contact area with bone and good osseointegration. Without bone grafting or sinus lifting, the patient receives a stable implant and high-quality prosthetic restoration.

I-System implants by size

Short I-System implants

These are non-screw Plateau-system implants with a length of 4 to 7 mm. Thanks to the plate-like design, such implants integrate well into bone and can withstand chewing loads even with minimal bone availability. Today, short I-System implants are the shortest in the world; other manufacturers do not have implants like them.

Features of short I-System implants:

• possibility of use with bone deficiency
• possibility to avoid bone grafting
• possibility to work in anatomically complex areas
• less traumatic treatment and more gentle surgery

In addition, short I-System implants have a safe rounded apex: a flat rounded tip of the implant. This design makes placement significantly safer even in very thin bone and minimizes the risk of damaging anatomical structures, including nerves and maxillary sinus membranes.

Another feature is the beveled shoulder of the implant. This shape leaves more space for the patient’s own bone and soft tissue around the implant. This is especially important in esthetically significant areas because it helps preserve the natural gum contour and reduce the risk of its “recession” over time.

Standard I-System implants

These are used in so-called classic implantation when the patient has enough bone to integrate a longer implant. The I-System range includes implants from 8 to 13 mm in length.

Standard I-System implants can have either a screw-type or Plateau design, depending on the clinical task.

Features of standard I-System implants:

• high primary stability
• possibility to work with bone of different density
• compatibility with different prosthetic solutions

Narrow I-System implants

Narrow implants are used when the space between teeth is limited or when the width of bone tissue is insufficient. Implant diameters range from 3 to 3.5 mm.

The main task of narrow implants is to make implantation possible with minimal trauma and preservation of surrounding tissues.

Features of narrow I-System implants:

• more delicate placement
• minimal intervention in bone tissue
• preservation of soft tissue
• possibility to work in limited space
• high esthetics in the smile zone

The I-System is fully integrated into the digital CAD-CAM protocol. This makes it possible to manufacture abutments and crowns individually from the patient’s 3D scans. It ensures a more precise fit of the structure to the soft tissue, better esthetics and the most natural appearance of the future tooth.

Main material in I-System implants

In most cases, implants are made of titanium, although other options are possible. For medical titanium, the strength grade matters. Grade 4 or Grade 5 titanium is used for implant production.

I-System modified the strongest Grade 5 titanium and uses an improved medical version: Titanium Grade 23. It contains fewer impurities, which makes it possible to achieve greater strength under load.

This is important because the manufacturer specializes in implants for complex implantations. There can be no compromise on strength here, especially when short or narrow implants are involved.

I-System implant surface treatment

The implant must “take” in the bone, meaning osseointegration must occur. Here, not only the implant material, bioinert titanium, matters, but also the way the structure’s surface is treated.

The surface of I-System implants is not smooth; it has microroughness that promotes better adhesion of bone tissue to the implant. The company has patented its own technology, i-mimetic, which imitates the structure of bone for better integration.

The rough implant surface promotes:

• better attachment of bone cells around the implant
• faster osseointegration
• improved implant stability

Every implant brand specializes in several key areas. For I-System, the main focus is short Plateau-system implants. They make it possible to perform implantation effectively in complex clinical cases, and these are the implants we use at Dr. Osadchiy’s Clinic.

It is also worth noting the biological protocol for placing I-System implants. During bone preparation, special drills are used at ultra-low speeds: under 50 revolutions per minute. This approach helps avoid overheating the bone and allows the doctor to collect the patient’s own living bone chips during surgery. The doctor can then use them to additionally strengthen the implant placement area and improve tissue healing.

The advantages of these implants include:

• minimized trauma
• possibility to avoid bone grafting
• preservation of bone tissue
• stable load distribution
• high primary stability
• better osseointegration
• a more physiologic approach to implantation