Q: For which teeth can the dental implant be used?

A: It can be used for any molar tooth. It is ideal for the positions of 7-10 teeth. 6 can also be replaced, but it is more complicated because of the missing neighboring tooth.

Q: Does the horse tolerate the tooth?

A: Yes. So far no intolerance reactions have been seen.

Q: Does the dental implant have to be changed at some point?

A: No. It should only be checked for strength. If it is loose or even fell out it can be replaced by a new 3D printing.

Q: Who is the system intended for?

A: For all veterinarians who want to place an implant after a tooth extraction. Due to the very mobile unit, the system can be used not only in clinics.

Q: How is the new tooth inserted & fixed?

A: Once the socket is cleaned, free of infectious, necrotic tissue and granulation of the tooth socket has occurred, the implant can be placed. The timing of placement should be as soon as possible, but is highly dependent on the condition of the alveolar socket. The later the insertion, the more the implant must be adjusted or reduced in size. This is done by grinding down the side walls, if possible in small steps until the implant can be inserted under pressure. Fixation with dental adhesive is not necessary.

Q: Which food can be given after insertion?

A: I recommend the same feeding as is recommended for other fillings: normal feeding and avoid hard food such as carrots.

Q: What will be done with the tooth gap in the time between extraction and insertion? Should a filling be used here?

A: It depends on the condition of the alveolus and the reason for tooth extraction. In cases of clean tooth socket (e.g. oral forceps extraction due to a slap fracture without infection of a pulp) the implant can be placed immediately. In cases of necrotic tooth socket and / or purulent secretion, known fillings (e.g. Panasil) or tamponades are used.

Q: How does the dental implant behave when the opposite tooth wears out normally?

A: It is not possible to say at this time because the long-term checkups are still pending. During the interim checkups so far, wear marks were visible on both the opposing tooth and the implant. It is not yet possible to measure the inserted implant because it cannot be visualized radiographically. The tilting (impaction, "shift") of the neighboring teeth is used to fix the implant.

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Dr. Tim Steinberg is a Specialist Veterinarian for Horses, Team Veterinarian DOKR, FEI Permitted Treating Vet and expert in Equine Dentistry. He is one of the Partners of the Tierklinik Lüsche, one of the most advanced veterinary institutions in Europe. He has been the first to test r3Dents 3D printed dental implants for horses in the Tierklinik Lüsche for over one year with great results.

More information about r3Dent at the Tierklinik Lüsche here: www.tierklinik-luesche.de