Straumann® BLT – Roxolid® and SLActive®

Application of the Straumann® 2.9mm Bone Level Tapered implant in the esthetic zone

A clinical case report by Luca Pirracchio, Switzerland

This case describes a successful single tooth restoration in the esthetic zone by means of the Straumann® “SmallOne” implant, addressing esthetic challenges in compromised situations such as narrow interdental spaces or reduced bone availability.

Author: Luca Pirracchio

Dr. med. dent Luca Pirracchio

Assistant dentist at the Clinic of Periodontology, University of Berne, Switzerland.

Initial situation

The patient was a 73-year-old man who visited our department because of a fractured tooth 41 (Fig. 1). The tooth was considered as not worth treating. The patient's general periodontal situation was healthy. The patient regularly attends supportive periodontal treatment sessions and maintains good oral hygiene. His medical history revealed no comorbidities.

Treatment planning

Tooth 41 was extracted, and a CBCT scan was recorded nine weeks later. The radiographic evaluation revealed an adequate amount of bone in the vertical and horizontal dimensions (Figs. 2, 3). Because of the narrow gap in the mesio-distal dimension (Fig. 4), a reduced diameter Bone Level Tapered (BLT) 2.9mm implant was selected to ensure adequate cleanability of the interdental spaces.

Surgical procedure

The surgical procedure was performed 11 weeks after extraction under local anesthesia. A mid-crestal incision was performed to raise a mucoperiosteal flap (Fig. 5). The implant bed was prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions for placing a Straumann® BLT implant (Roxolid®, SLActive® 2.9/10mm) in region #41 (Figs. 6-9). A gingiva former of adequate height was inserted to allow a transmucosal healing. The site was sutured with non-resorbable monofilament sutures. The healing was uneventful, and the sutures were removed after seven days (Fig. 10).

Prosthetic procedure

Six weeks after healing, an impression was taken (Fig. 11). A screw-retained crown veneered with lithium disilicate ceramic on a Straumann^® Variobase^® abutment was constructed by the dental technician and delivered two weeks after impression taking (Figs. 12, 13).

Final result

To ensure adequate cleanability by the patient, and thus maintain good periodontal health, a Straumann^® narrow diameter BLT implant (Roxolid^®, SLActive^® 2.9/10mm) was placed. The patient was happy with the function, esthetics and good access for interdental brushes.