Glossary

Sandblasted, large grit, acid-etched implant surface, (SLA) is a type of surface treatment that creates surface roughness with the goal of enhancing osseointegration through greater bone-to-implant contact (BIC). The SLA process increases the rate at which osseointegration occurs by using a combination of grit and acid etching to give the surface increased roughness on multiple levels. This allows osteoblasts to proliferate and adhere to the implant surface. Through osseointegration, SLA can help provide increased stability of the implant which will ultimately lengthen its longevity. The use of specialized implants by Straumann SLA implants, such as the SLActive implant and the Roxolid SLA implant, reduces the amount of treatment time required while also increasing the treatment predictability. The Roxolid SLA implant can also reduce the need for bone augmentation to assist those patients who have insufficient bone. The SLA process offers a variety of benefits to patients requiring increased ossification prior to an implant.

Treating the surface of a dental implant has been shown to promote osseointegration and reduce the likelihood of dental implant failure. The sandblasting procedure is just one way that the surface of a dental implant can be altered using different equipment to help encourage the success of the implant. The sandblasting process is straightforward and involves using a stationary or portable sandblaster to “blast” sand at the surface of a dental implant at a high velocity to change the texture of the surface. On a microscopic level, the sandblasting procedure “roughs up” the outer layer of the implant, creating a surface that is easier for the bone to grip as the implant heals. Like sandpaper, different sizes of sand or grit can be used to create different outcomes — larger pieces of sand are going to create a rougher surface while smaller grains of sand create a smoother but still textured surface.

The sandwich technique is a specific strategy in restorative dentistry used for fillings. In both open and closed sandwich techniques, the different materials of the composite resin is layered or “stacked” onto the tooth, similar to building the layers of a sandwich. This is done instead of mixing the materials of the resin together before filling the cavity. An open sandwich refers to when the filling is located on one of the sides of the tooth and comes into contact with the oral cavity. A closed sandwich refers to a filling in the center of the tooth that does not come into contact with the oral cavity. Many dental professionals who work in restorative dentistry feel that the sandwich technique provides a stronger filling, because the glass ionomer cement that is layered on first bonds to the tooth structure below and the composite to follow, offering a better seal and increasing filling retention.

The sausage technique is a term used in implant dentistry to describe a specific technique used for bone regeneration. Created by Hungarian periodontist Dr. Istvan Urban, the sausage technique is much less invasive than its predecessors. Before this technique was developed, more autogenous bone had to be harvested, which typically resorbs over time. Now, periodontists attempting to regenerate bone prior to a dental implant can use 50% autogenous bone and 50% xenogenic bone. Instead of using only one material or the other, both materials are used and much less autogenous bone is necessary, which results in a less invasive harvesting procedure. The sausage technique receives its name from the way the native collagen membrane looks when it is stretched out like a skin with small tacks to keep the bone graft from moving. The membrane allows for improved blood flow during healing and bone regeneration, and the host bone is typically reabsorbed by 6 weeks.