Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shape of the Bicon implant?
The Bicon implant is a tapered implant design with fins or plateaus. The fin design adds at least 30% more surface area than a screw implant of the same size. The fins also allow for a direct resistance to the vertical forces of occlusion. The implants and abutments of the system are made from the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V.

What size implants does Bicon offer?
The Bicon Implant is available in four lengths of 5.7, 8.0, 11.0, and 14.0mm and five diameters of 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 and 6.0mm. Due to the increased surface area that the fin design provides, shorter implants can be used routinely. For example, the use of a 5.0 x 8.0mm implant is sufficient to support any tooth in the dental arch.

What are the surface coatings? Which coating should I choose?
All implants are made from surgical grade titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V). Since 1985, every implant has been grit blasted and passivated in a nitric acid solution. Implants are available in titanium oxide (uncoated), titanium plasma sprayed (TPS), and hydroxylapatite (HA). The choice of coating is a matter of personal preference as all coatings are successfully used by clinicians around the world. The HA helps to jump start the integration process and is usually the implant of choice when placing an implant in poor quality bone. The implant of choice for most clinicians is the first the HA, and then the uncoated.

How should the implant be placed?
The Bicon implant is designed to be placed such that the top of the implant is 5.0mm below the gingival crest. This placement is especially important for aesthetic areas.

How does the abutment connect to the implant?
The Bicon abutment attaches to the implant by a 1.5 degree locking taper. The locking taper, also know as friction, is a well known engineering principle used for joining two pieces of like-metal together. A locking taper consists of a 1.5 degree tapered post that fits into a corresponding 1.5 degree tapered well. When a light force is applied to the abutment, the post of the abutment and the well of the implant become one. The locking taper connection provides a bacterial seal at the implant-abutment interface. Other applications that utilize a locking taper are orthopedic hip implants and the dental lathe, an instrument you use each day.

What size and type of abutments does Bicon offer?
Bicon offers abutments for both crown and denture restorations. Within both of these categories, the abutments are available in different lengths, diameters, angulations and post diameters. The post diameter you choose, 2.0 or 3.0mm, depends upon the diameter of the implant you place. For a full listing of abutments, please refer to our online catalogue.

What is a temporary abutment?
A temporary abutment assists in the healing, formation and maintenance of the soft tissue over an implant. During the one-stage technique, the temporary abutment is placed into the implant and helps to form the sulcus during the implant's integration. Or, some dentists who use the two-stage technique choose to place the temporary abutment in lieu of the final abutment at the time of the implant's exposure. After soft-tissue maturation, the dentist would remove the temporary abutment and then place the final abutment.

What is an emergence cuff? When and how do I use an emergence cuff?
An emergence cuff is a plastic prosthetic ring, which is placed over a permanent abutment to maintain a proper gingival sulcus. An emergence cuff may be used alone, in non-aesthetic areas, or it may act as the apical third of a temporary crown. To meet the need of a particular clinical situation, the emergence cuff may be reshaped. For Bicon's regular abutments, the emergence cuff is retained with cement. And, for our new Stealth Shouldered Abutment System, the emergence cuff is snapped into place.

What type of impression material do the clinicians at Bicon use for the non-shouldered abutment?
The impression material of choice is hydrocolloid. However, the clinicians may use the material that they feel is best.

What type of cement should be used for crown restorations?
Any dental cement can be used to retain a crown on a permanent abutment. We advise the use of a bonding type of cement when cementing all-ceramic crowns. At our training facility, we use DiamondLink™ cement for all-ceramic crowns.

How do I remove an abutment shaft that has already been tapped into an implant?
To remove an abutment using forceps grasp the abutment with a definite purchase and apply a simultaneous twisting and pulling motion to release the abutment from the implant. Alternatively, an abutment may be removed from an implant with the use of forceps and a tapping instrument such as a mallet or another forceps. After grasping the abutment with the forceps, apply a tapping force on the handle of the forceps away from and in the long axis of the implant. This technique will be particularly advantageous for the removal of an abutment in a recently integrated implant.

What is the difference between an o-ring abutment and a ball abutment for denture restorations?
The difference between the o-ring and the ball abutment is the diameter of the male attachment on the abutment. The o-ring abutment has a 2.0mm diameter attachment and the ball abutment has a 4.0mm attachment. The o-ring abutment is more flexible in its use because it is available in a 0 and 15 degree angulation, whereas the ball abutment is only available in a 0 degree angulation.

How long should it take for the implant to integrate?
After the placement of an implant, the osseointegration process may last anywhere from two to six months. In certain clinical situations, such as grafted cases or poor quality bone cases, the time for integration may be up to one year.

Are there benefits to the one-stage technique?
The main advantages of the one-stage technique are the preservation of the dental papillae and the timely formation of a gingival sulcus during the integration of the implant. With the one-stage technique, there is no need for surgery at the time of final abutment placement. This eliminates the need for anesthesia and sutures. However, with the use of the one-stage technique, particular attention must be paid to avoid movement of the integrating implant by the tongue, a bolus of food or a removable prosthesis.

Can Bicon be used as an alternative to root canal treatment?
YES! Not all teeth are good candidates for root canal treatment. In situations where the teeth are not worth saving, a Bicon implant should be considered. Root canal treatments are susceptible to decay and oftentimes put the patient through a painful and costly process (cf. crown lengthening). The cost factor for saving a tooth during the course of your dental treatments can exceed that of the placement of an implant and crown fabrication. This is not to say that root canals should not be done, but rather to say that implants should be considered as an alternative treatment.

Where is Bicon located?
Bicon is located at 501 Arborway Boston, MA 02130 USA.

What are Bicon's hours of operation?
Bicon is open for customer service and technical support Monday through Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm EST. Orders for overnight delivery must be received by 5:00pm EST.

How can I place an order?
Orders may be placed by phone, fax or through our online store. For orders placed through our online store, our domestic and Canadian customers will receive a 2% discount. If you are located in a country where Bicon has a distributor, then please contact your distributor directly. For a list of distributors, please visit our worldwide list.

What is Bicon's method of payment?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express or domestic customers may have their order shipped C.O.D. (collect on delivery).

What is Bicon's method of shipping?
All orders are shipped exclusively via FEDEX.

What is Bicon's return Policy?
A Return Authorization Number (RA#) must be obtained before returning merchandise for credit by calling 800-882-4266. The RA# must be clearly marked on the outside of the package and a copy of the original invoice must accompany the returned product. Product returns must have manufacturer's packaging and seals intact to be considered for product credit. All returned product is subject to evaluation prior to any credit authorization. Product must be received within 30 days of the shipping invoice date to be eligible for full product credit or replacement. Product returned after 30 days but before 60 days will be subject to a 15% restocking charge. Product returned between 60 days and 90 days will be assessed a restocking fee of 30%. Product returned after 90 days from the original invoice date will not be accepted. Bicon reserves the right to refuse credit or increase the restocking fee for product that does not meet the specifics of the return policy.

What types of porcelain can be used with the aluminum oxide sleeve?
The two types of porcelain used in the development of this new abutment and aluminum oxide sleeve were Cerabien™ by Noritake and Allceram™ by Degussa-Ney. You may check with your porcelain manufacturer about the use of a particular porcelain with an aluminum oxide sleeve.

What is the expansion factor of the sleeve?
AL₂ O3 25 deg. C. to 500 deg. C. 7 x 10 ^ -6/C
25 deg. C. to 800 deg. C. 8 x 10 ^ -6/C

What cement should be used for an all-ceramic crown with the Bicon sleeve?
It is advisable to use a bonding cement. The clinicians at Bicon prefer Diamond Link™ universal dental bonding system. You may order it directly from Bicon.

What does my laboratory technician have to do, if anything, to the aluminum oxide sleeve before building up the porcelain?
The laboratory technicians at Bicon have placed the aluminum oxide sleeve in an ultrasonic cleaner with distilled water before building up the porcelain.

How do I trim the aluminum oxide sleeve if it is necessary?
Place the aluminum oxide sleeve on a Stealth Shouldered Abutment that is attached to Bicon's abutment prep holder (part # 260-101-390). Then, using a diamond disc wheel on a model trimmer, cut the sleeve as necessary.

What are the two lines for on the Stealth Shouldered Abutment that are 1/2 of the way down from the occlusal end?
The lines or indentations provide the locking mechanism for the snap-on emergence cuff. If necessary, the indentation may be polished off when seating a dental casting.

Can I take a direct impression of the Stealth Shouldered Abutment?
Yes. A direct impression may be taken of the Stealth Shouldered Abutment. However, it will require greater care to capture a subgingival margin than if you were to use the acrylic sleeve and emergence cuff.

What type of impression material do the clinicians use for the pick up of the acrylic sleeve and emergence cuff?
The impression material utilized is Impregum. You can see this being used in the New Techniques Video (part # 260-102-109). If you have not seen this video, please call Bicon or visit this page to request your free copy.

Why will this Stealth Shouldered Abutment system decrease the use of angled abutments?
Since the Stealth Shouldered Abutment is smaller in size than Bicon's non shouldered abutments for cement retained restoration, angulation corrections may be accomplished in the prosthesis instead of on the abutment.

Where is the ideal placement of the shoulder on the Stealth Shouldered Abutment?
The ideal placement is to have the shoulder of the abutment 1.5mm below the crest of the soft tissue.

What about the removal of cement sub-gingivally?
Care must be taken to avoid excess subgingival cement. The use of a lubricant, such as Vaseline on the external aspect of the crown prior to seating, will facilitate this for you. Also, since Bicon's abutment posts have the possibility of 360° universal positioning, extra-oral cementation of a crown is practical.

Can the Stealth Shouldered Abutment be modified?
Yes. However, if an indirect impression is taken, the analog and sleeve will also need to be modified.

Can the Stealth Shouldered Abutment be used for the restoration of all teeth? Centrals? Laterals? Bicuspids? Molars?
Yes. Any tooth that can accommodate a 5.0mm cervical diameter could be replaced with the Stealth Shouldered Abutment. If a smaller diameter is necessary, the universal shouldered abutment or the original non-shouldered abutments for cement retained restorations should be used.

What material is the abutment made of?
The Stealth Shouldered Abutments are made of Surgical Grade Titanium Alloy (Ti6Al4V). It is the same material used for all Bicon's other abutments and implants.

What are the 2005 CDT codes used for filing procedures related to implant dentistry?
6010   Surgical placement of implant body
6056   Prefabricated abutment-includes placement (abutment placement)
6056   Abutment supported porcelain/ceramic crown (IAC)
6059   Abutment supported PFM
7950   External Sinus Lift
7999   Unspecified oral surgery procedure (Ridge split)
7950   Bone graft
6100   Implant removal, by report.