Dental implant manufacturer banned from making false claims

BASEL, Switzerland--Straumann has won a legal battle against an implant manufacturer who misleadingly claimed its dental implants had a hydrophilic surface.

A German court has ruled that Medentis Medical GmbH (Dernau, Germany) must retract the claim that its ICX-templant implant is "hydrophilic."

Medentis initially contested the injunction, but the court found the company’s supporting evidence to be unconvincing. In a hearing Jan. 24, 2013, Medentis withdrew the appeal and accepted the injunction.

The court’s ruling was prompted by Straumann, a manufacturer of hydrophilic implants. Straumann tested the ICX-templant in its laboratories, and found that the Medentis product is in fact hydrophobic (i.e., its contact angle is clearly greater than 90°).

The hydrophilic properties of Straumann’s SLActive technology help enhance osseointegration, and shorten healing times compared to those without hydrophilicity as demonstrated in preclinical and clinical investigations.

“Dentists and patients have been misled by claims,” said Dr. René Willi, executive vice president and head of Straumann’s surgical business.

“Medentis ICX-templant implants do not offer hydrophilicity, which promotes faster healing. Faster osseointegration provides secondary stability when the implant is placed. The court’s ruling makes this clear, and sends an important signal to implant manufacturers. We are determined to take a strong, justified stand against imitators, in the interest of patients.”

For more information, go to www.straumann.com.

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References available upon request from company.