Evolving implant design. The NobelActive implant: discussion and case presentations.

The design and development of today's dental implants has been an evolving process based on scientific research, clinician input, and manufacturers' ingenuity. One new addition to the dental implant armamentarium, the NobelActive implant, was introduced worldwide by NobelBiocare approximately 2 years ago. While many of the design features of the NobelActive implant are found individually in other dental implants, the implant's combination of external and internal design characteristics provides for unique handling and applications in many difficult clinical situations. Although the NobelActive implant can be used in most all clinical situations, its design allows for high levels of initial stability even in situations with low density or compromised bone, making it a good implant choice for immediate extraction, immediate implant placement, and immediate load cases, as well as cases with less-than-ideal qualities and quantities of bone. In addition, the implant has the ability to be redirected if less-than-ideal implant placement occurs at the time of implant insertion, maximizing the potential prosthetic outcomes. Prosthetically, the implant has features designed to minimize crestal bone loss and maximize gingival architecture, while minimizing the prosthetic components and instrumentation. This article discusses the characteristics of the NobelActive implant in detail and employs case presentations to illustrate its clinical use.