Straumann, Nobel Biocare and Osstem are all established implant systems with published long-term studies, and no study we found shows one of them winning outright. In a Zurich trial comparing Astra Tech and Straumann implants over 10 years, survival was 89.7% and 96.8% at implant level and 100% for both at patient level. A Nobel Biocare All-on-4 study reported 96.2% at 10 years, and an Osstem study reported 94.8%. These studies used different patients and methods, so the figures are not a league table. What matters more for you is that the clinic names the brand and system in writing, and that the clinician has experience with it.
Which implant brands will you hear about in the UK?
These are the systems most often named by UK clinics, with what the manufacturer or a peer-reviewed paper says about each. Where a manufacturer makes a claim about itself, we say so.
| Brand | Who makes it | Systems named in sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straumann | Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland (source) | Straumann Bone Level implants with SLActive surface (source) | Straumann’s own website blocked our checks, so we rely on published papers here. |
| Nobel Biocare | Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden (source) | All-on-4 concept; NobelSpeedy Replace and NobelSpeedy Groovy implants | The All-on-4 study below was funded by Nobel Biocare. |
| Astra Tech (Dentsply Sirona) | Dentsply Sirona (source) | Astra Tech Implant System EV with OsseoSpeed surface | Dentsply Sirona says the system is proven by 1,100 clinical studies over four decades. |
| Osstem | Osstem Implant Co., Busan, Korea (source) | TS III SA, SS II SA, SS III SA and U III SA | Osstem says it was the no. 1 seller of implants in the world for 5 consecutive years (2017 to 2021). |
| ZimVie | ZimVie | T3, T3 PRO and Tapered Screw-Vent implants | ARCHIMED completed its acquisition of ZimVie in October 2025. |
| BioHorizons | BioHorizons Camlog | Tapered Pro Conical with Laser-Lok surface | BioHorizons says Laser-Lok is shown to create a connective tissue attachment and retain crestal bone. |
Dentsply Sirona’s own history page says DENTSPLY International was founded as the Dentists’ Supply Company in 1899 in New York City. Osstem says it operates a network spanning over 100 countries. These are company statements. They tell you who stands behind a system, but they say nothing about how your implant will perform.
What do long-term studies say about survival?
Survival means the implant is still in the mouth at the end of the study. It does not mean it is free of problems. These are the figures from the studies we could read in full:
| Study | Brand(s) | Patients and implants | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich randomised trial, 10 years | Astra Tech vs Straumann | Ninety-eight implants in 64 patients; 43 patients re-examined at 10 years | Implant-level survival 89.7% (Astra Tech) and 96.8% (Straumann); 100% for both at patient level |
| All-on-4 retrospective study, 10 years | Nobel Biocare | Full-arch patients treated with implants placed with dehiscence or fenestration | Cumulative implant survival 96.2% at 10 years |
| Seoul retrospective study | Osstem (SA surface) | Ninety-six implants in 45 patients, placed 2008 to 2010 | Survival 94.8%; all five failures were early complications |
| Private periodontal practice, 10 years | Dentsply Sirona XiVE and Frialit-2 Synchro | 100 patients with 242 implants | Survival 94.0% overall (XiVE 97.7%; Frialit-2-Synchro 66.7%) |
The Osstem paper also cites an earlier Straumann study: Buser et al. reported that the 10-year survival rate of implants with SLA surfaces was 98.8% (as cited in the Osstem paper).
How to read these figures
- The studies are small. Dozens or a few hundred implants cannot rank brands against each other.
- They used different patients, surgeons and follow-up methods, so you cannot line up the percentages side by side.
- Industry links are common. The All-on-4 study was funded by Nobel Biocare Services AG, and the authors of the Zurich trial declared fees or grants from Straumann and Dentsply Sirona (trial disclosures).
- Systems differ even within one company. In the private practice study, XiVE and Frialit-2-Synchro are both Dentsply Sirona systems, with very different survival figures.
- Your own health matters. In the All-on-4 study, implant survival for smokers with dehiscence was 87.7%, compared with 98.6% for non-smokers (source).
The Zurich trial also found differences beyond survival: technical complications were more frequently encountered in the Astra Tech group, while the Straumann group had a higher prevalence of peri-implant mucositis (gum inflammation around the implant).
Does the implant design matter more than the brand?
Often the choice is about design for your case. The Association of Dental Implantology explains that tissue-level implants are preferred for posterior regions due to their ease of maintenance, while bone-level implants are ideal for anterior areas where aesthetics and soft tissue management matter. It adds that material, connection, shape and thread design all affect the result.
So a good answer to “which brand?” from your dentist includes the system and the reason it suits your mouth.
Why you should get the brand name in writing
You need the brand and system name if the implant or crown ever needs work, especially if a different dentist does it. The profession is also concerned about fake products: the ADI and the British Dental Industry Association ran a joint webinar on counterfeit devices, covering how to identify counterfeit and non-compliant products and minimise the risks of their use.
Ask for these details in your written treatment plan:
- The implant brand and the full system name.
- Whether the abutment comes from the same manufacturer or a third party.
- Whether the guarantee covers the implant, the crown, or both, and for how long.
- What happens, and what you pay, if the implant fails to integrate.
- Whether you will receive a record of the implant used, for future dentists.
Does the brand change the price?
The clinic fee pages we use for our city guides rarely split prices by brand, so we cannot give you a reliable brand premium. Compare the full price of the treatment, and ask each clinic which system the quote is based on. Our UK dental implant cost guide and city pages such as London, Manchester and Leeds list published prices clinic by clinic.
For full-arch treatment, see our guides to All-on-4 dental implants, full arch implants and full mouth implant costs. If you may need extra bone, read our bone graft guide. For choosing a clinic, see best dental implants in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Which dental implant brand is best?
No study we found shows one brand is best for everyone. Established systems such as Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Astra Tech and Osstem all have long-term studies with high survival figures. The design that suits your case and the experience of the clinician matter as much as the name.
Is Osstem as good as Straumann?
We found no head-to-head trial of Osstem against Straumann. A Seoul study of 96 Osstem implants reported 94.8% survival, and a 10-year Straumann SLA study (Buser et al.) reported 98.8%, but the studies differ too much to compare directly.
Is Straumann better than Astra Tech?
In a Zurich randomised trial, 10-year implant-level survival was 96.8% for Straumann and 89.7% for Astra Tech, and 100% for both at patient level. The authors said survival was high for both systems. Astra Tech had more technical complications and Straumann more peri-implant mucositis.
Which brand is used for All-on-4?
All-on-4 is a concept from Nobel Biocare. A Nobel-funded study of All-on-4 patients reported 96.2% cumulative implant survival at 10 years, lower in smokers. Other brands also offer full-arch systems, so ask your clinic which one it uses.
Why does it matter which brand my clinic uses?
If the implant or crown needs repair later, the next dentist needs to know the exact system to get compatible parts. Ask for the brand and system name in your written treatment plan.
Are fake dental implants a real risk?
The Association of Dental Implantology and the British Dental Industry Association have run a joint session on counterfeit and non-compliant dental devices. Ask your clinic to name the manufacturer and keep a record of the implant used.