Media & news

First for 50 years

by: Michael Stuart

In 1965, Gösta Larsson of Gothenburg, Sweden, was an oral invalid. But that changed overnight. As the first recipient of osseointegrated dental implants, carefully placed by the late Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark, his life changed forever. And so did dentistry.

P-I Branemark with his first dental implant patient Gösta Larsson

Two men that made history together: Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark  with his first dental implant patient, Gösta Larsson.

Following the success of that first dental implant surgery (when Gösta Larsson passed away in 2006 he had used his implants for over forty years), P-I Brånemark wanted to scale-up dental implant production so that others could benefit. The businesses that Brånemark first partnered with to begin manufacturing later evolved to become Nobel Biocare, and we take our stewardship of his legacy extremely seriously.

Still leading with original evidence

That very first dental implant treatment was based on the original scientific insight from P-I Brånemark’s discovery of osseointegration in 1952. Things have come a long way since then.

What was a breakthrough at the time was subsequently substantiated and rigorously documented. We continue this focus on research and development today. No product or solution gets the Nobel Biocare logo without thorough testing. And, once launched, the collection of clinical evidence never stops. There are now over 4,400 independent scientific publications with data on our products and solutions.

Solutions, not products

As the pioneer of implant science, we have introduced, or been connected to, many of the solutions that are now the industry standard. While it all started with dental implants fifty years ago, that was just the beginning. Innovation in dental restorations and digital dentistry has also been remarkable.

We were the first to produce industrially milled CAD/CAM restorations. Over thirty years and eleven million restorations later, there’s still a focus on restorative innovations. New solutions like the NobelProcera ASC (angulated screw channel) Abutment give dental professionals new possibilities and restore quality of life for patients.

The advent of digital technology has brought with it advances in dental implantology that P-I Brånemark and his colleagues could barely have imagined. Nobel Biocare now offers an integrated workflow, digitally enabling clinicians and dental technicians to collaborate more effectively. From treatment planning to the final restoration, each step is seamlessly linked for predictable results in less time.

We continues to push the frontiers of dentistry today, most recently by bringing innovation back to the posterior region with its new complete posterior solution. This original combination of wide-platform implants and high-strength restorative options is designed for the demands of the posterior region. While restoring single molars is a common indication, there are multiple obstacles to treatment success. Now, there's a cement-free solution that can overcome all main challenges.

Treat more patients better

While the dental industry constantly evolves, our dedication to helping our customers treat more patients better remains the same.

Just as for the last fifty years, we will continue to offer superior products and solutions for all indications, comprehensive training and education programs, and initiatives that help dental professionals increase patient flow and treatment acceptance. Nobel Biocare has been first for fifty years and that isn’t going to change. 

More to explore