Dental Implant Rankings: Premium, Mid-Range & Budget

January 23, 2021 · 3 min read

Here's an overview of dental implant systems. Let's break down which options are worth considering in the premium, mid-range, and budget price categories.

Premium Segment

Straumann and Nobel share first place in our ranking, with Astra taking second. Straumann integrates faster thanks to its SLActive surface and is stronger thanks to its Roxolid alloy — it's our clinic's system of choice. Nobel has a wider model lineup, is used in immediate-loading protocols (such as All-on-4), and has its own proprietary abutments. Astra offers implants with beveled edges that help with bone atrophy, and while it doesn't stand out as dramatically as the industry's two pioneers, it rightfully earns its place in the top 3 manufacturers.

Mid-Range

This category stands out for its wide range of manufacturers from South Korea, Germany, Israel, the US, and other countries.

Osstem and Megagen — a conical connection with medium-level sealing and good structural stabilization. Osstem is a South Korean company with over 20 years of experience (sold under the Hiossen brand in the US), known for quality packaging and surgical kits, though it lacks an immediate-implantation kit. Megagen is a relatively young company with a broad product line and decent integration, though its packaging quality falls short.

Ankylos — one of the first systems with a very stable internal connection, stable around deeply placed implants, though prosthetics are more complex and require more careful planning.

Bicon — an American system with the narrowest connection cone, considered the most sealed, but its tap-in abutment fixation complicates the prosthetic stage and limits material choices.

Mis — an Israeli system with a purer titanium composition and well-thought-out guided surgery, though it costs more than other Israeli systems.

BioHorizons — an American upper-mid-range system with Laser-Lok technology for better integration into bone and soft tissue, though at a higher cost.

Budget Segment

Budget systems (DIO, AlfaBio, AlfaDent, Neobiotech) mostly replicate the work of established manufacturers using cheaper materials. Dio and Neobiotech are Korean systems with decent integration rates but a narrower selection of prosthetic components. AlfaBio and AlfaDent are Israeli systems that were widely used in the 2000s; even in successful cases, bone tissue recedes a few millimeters further from the platform level than with modern systems, and biocompatibility is lower compared to pricier alternatives.

Beyond the implant's own characteristics, other factors matter too: whether the right model lineup is available on your country's market, and how reliable the supplier is — this determines whether a component can be replaced years down the line. The best approach is to trust the judgment of a surgeon who's focused on your long-term outcome, not their margin.