The decision to get a dental implant naturally raises questions: how long will healing take, will the procedure be invasive, and how will the material behave in the body after a dozen or so years? In modern implantology, however, success does not depend on the manufacturer's promises, but on biology and the precision of planning.
At MALO CLINIC, Swiss Straumann implants are the standard in many procedures, utilising two key solutions: Roxolid® (an advanced titanium-zirconium alloy with increased strength) and SLActive® (a hydrophilic surface that accelerates early bone integration). In clinical practice, we do not treat them as marketing slogans, but as tools that, under specific conditions, make it possible to shorten treatment times or reduce the need for bone augmentation procedures.
Below, we explain the difference between the implant material and its surface properties, when these technologies truly benefit the patient, and why the final choice is always dictated by anatomy, not a catalogue.
An implant is part of an entire treatment system
An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth, but is not yet a complete restoration on its own. It is connected to an abutment and a crown, bridge, or another prosthetic restoration. Therefore, not only the properties of the part placed in the bone are important, but also the geometry of the connection, the availability of prosthetic components, and the ease of maintaining hygiene around the restoration.
In the Straumann system, the names Roxolid® and SLActive® describe two different levels of technology. The overview below shows their role in treatment planning.
System component | What it means | Significance in planning |
|---|---|---|
Roxolid® | Alloy of 85% titanium and 15% zirconium | Higher mechanical strength; allows consideration of a smaller diameter in selected indications |
SLActive® | Hydrophilic, chemically modified surface | Supports early osseointegration; does not determine the loading time on its own |
Implant geometry | Diameter, length, and shape | Selection tailored to bone volume, location, and planned restoration |
Prosthetic connection | The way the implant connects to the abutment and crown | Affects the fabrication of the restoration, its monitoring, and hygiene |
Which Straumann implants does MALO CLINIC use?
In implant treatment at MALO CLINIC, selected Straumann implants combining the Roxolid® material with the SLActive® surface are used. However, the specific model, diameter, and length are not chosen in advance. These parameters result from clinical examination, CBCT diagnostics, and the design of the prosthetic reconstruction.
A patient may therefore receive two implants from the same manufacturer that differ in shape or dimensions because they have been designed for different anatomical conditions and loads. Brand information does not replace an individual treatment plan.
Roxolid® – a titanium-zirconium alloy
Roxolid® is a metal alloy containing approximately 85% titanium and 15% zirconium. It should not be confused with a ceramic implant made of zirconium dioxide. In Roxolid®, titanium remains the primary component, and the addition of zirconium alters the mechanical properties of the material.
According to Straumann's technical documentation, the alloy exhibits higher tensile and fatigue strength than comparable Grade 4 titanium. This is particularly significant in smaller-diameter implants, as reducing the cross-section entails a greater mechanical load on the material.
Long-term clinical studies, including 10-year randomised patient follow-ups, confirm the high efficacy and stability of narrow titanium-zirconium implants (Ti-Zr with a diameter of 3.3 mm), showing a success rate fully comparable to standard-diameter titanium implants. The material's higher strength allows the clinician to safely use a narrower implant in demanding anatomical conditions, while maintaining complete treatment predictability.
Greater strength does not automatically mean a less invasive procedure
A stronger material may allow the clinician to consider a smaller-diameter implant when the ridge is narrow or space between adjacent teeth is limited. In implant practice, the use of such implants makes it possible, in selected cases, to reduce the need for lateral bone augmentation procedures or to facilitate the delivery of an aesthetic restoration.
However, this does not mean that a titanium-zirconium implant always eliminates the need for bone regeneration. The necessity for augmentation is determined by, among other factors, the volume and shape of the ridge, the planned position of the crown, the condition of the soft tissues, and the ability to maintain a safe amount of bone around the implant. Under certain loads or in the presence of parafunctions, a larger diameter may still be the more appropriate solution.
SLActive® – a surface associated with early osseointegration
SLActive® is a chemically modified, hydrophilic surface with moderate roughness. This means that fluid easily wets it. After placing the implant in the bone, this property influences the initial contact with blood and the environment in which the formation of new bone tissue begins.
In a human histological study, SLActive® was compared with an SLA surface of similar topography but lower hydrophilicity. After 2 and 4 weeks, bone-to-implant contact with newly formed bone was greater with SLActive®. After 42 days, the values for both surfaces were similar. The result primarily indicates a difference in the early healing phase, rather than a permanent advantage across every clinical parameter.
Healing time remains individual
The manufacturer describes the possibility of reducing the healing period from 6–8 to 3–4 weeks for appropriate indications. This is information regarding the potential of the surface, not a timeframe that can be applied to every patient. Osseointegration and readiness for crown loading are not synonymous terms.
The clinician assesses primary implant stability, bone quality, the surgical site, the extent of augmentation, tissue condition, and the type of future reconstruction. Only compiling these data makes it possible to determine whether the implant can be loaded earlier or should heal for longer. The implant surface is one of the elements of this decision.
Biocompatibility and biological safety of titanium alloys
Medical-grade titanium and the Roxolid® alloy feature excellent biocompatibility – they are biologically inert materials, allowing tissues to integrate seamlessly with the implant surface. In medical literature, genuine hypersensitivity or allergy to titanium is an extremely rare phenomenon, described only in isolated case reports.
A patient previously diagnosed with atypical reactions to metal alloys always discusses this matter with the clinician during the medical consultation – this allows the team to plan the procedure with complete safety and select the optimal solution.
What does the quality of an implant system really mean?
In medical terminology, the quality of an implant is not evaluated based on marketing claims. What is assessed are the material properties, clinical documentation for a given indication, the precision and compatibility of the system's components, and the feasibility of fabricating a restoration that the patient will be able to clean effectively.
Equally important are factors independent of the manufacturer: proper patient qualification, three-dimensional diagnostics, implant positioning, inflammation control, prosthetic design, and subsequent hygiene. Even a well-documented system cannot compensate for incorrect implant placement or a lack of supportive maintenance care.
Therefore, information regarding the material and surface should be considered part of the discussion about the treatment plan, not as a standalone guarantee of durability. The scope of diagnostics used in implant planning is described on the dental radiology page, and information about implant-supported restorations can be found in the section dedicated to MALO CLINIC prosthodontics.
How does a clinician select an implant for a specific site?
The selection begins with determining the position of the future crown. Next, the clinician analyses CBCT scans, bone width and height, the course of nerves or the maxillary sinus, soft tissue thickness, and anticipated occlusal loads. Based on this, a solution is chosen that enables tooth restoration while simultaneously preserving the conditions required to maintain tissue health.
During the consultation, it is worth discussing key aspects of the treatment plan with the clinician:
whether prior preparatory procedures (e.g. bone or soft tissue augmentation) will be necessary in this particular case;
what the anticipated treatment timeline looks like and when the final crown is scheduled to be fitted;
whether a temporary crown is planned during the healing period to ensure full smile aesthetics;
what hygiene recommendations and follow-up appointment schedules will optimally ensure the longevity of the implant.
The answers should relate to the patient's clinical conditions, rather than solely to the brand name of the system. More information about the scope of treatment can be found on the MALO CLINIC implantology page.
