Natural Dental Implants, developer of the Replicate nonsurgical tooth replacement system, is partnering with Absolute Ceramics, a manufacturer of all-ceramic crowns, inlays, and onlays, to produce and sell Replicate components in Europe.
Absolute Ceramics will manufacture Replicate system components at its facility in Leipzig, Germany, and sell the product through its sales force in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland beginning in the third quarter of this year, the companies said.
The Replicate system, a nonsurgical approach to replacing teeth that are no longer functional, is an alternative to three-unit bridges and traditional dental implants, according to Natural Dental Implants. Each Replicate tooth is 100% customized for the individual patient using cone-beam CT/digital volume tomography (CBCT/DVT) imaging, specialized software and precision manufacturing techniques. An anatomical copy of the natural tooth is made, then implanted at the time the nonfunctional tooth is extracted.
A customized lingual splint, attached to the Replicate tooth and bonded to the adjacent teeth, is used for primary stability. It is designed to place the implanted tooth slightly out of occlusion, restricting micromovements during osteointegration.