The Osstem Implant Research Institute is regarded as the backbone of Osstem Implant's success.
If numbers are anything to go by, it is clear that Osstem Implants – the first enterprise to develop and produce dental implants in South Korea – are well on their way to becoming one of the globe’s biggest players.
The Seoul-based organisation now boasts a portfolio that covers over 3,000 implants and abutments, and is known to have achieved the highest global implant sales over the last five years.
Since its establishment in 1997, the brand has grown to own more than 30 subsidiaries that span from Asia and the Americas, to Europe and the Middle East.
Osstem Malaysia Sdn Bhd – a subsidiary of Osstem, for example, has played a significant role in this mission by consistently providing the best service and implant products to dentists in Malaysia since 2007.
A large part of this global success stems from the company’s very own Osstem Implant Research Institute.
Established in 2002, this research centre is the artery of development for most of the company’s mainstream products, that range from dental implants and material to imaging technology, medical products and digital dentistry solutions.
Art of science
At the institute, over 40 specialised researchers in fields that vary from mechanical and material engineering, medical engineering, and prosthodontics use vast clinical data and scientific experiments to shape custom implant designs for various dental conditions.
The primary focus of the Osstem Implant Research Institute, however, lies in the development of physical design technologies.
Their multifaceted research and development projects encompass areas such as the precise placement of implants, improving implant durability, and the creation of surgical instruments to aid implant placement in challenging situations.
The institute’s mammoth efforts have led to a comprehensive product portfolio, including implants, abutments, prostheses, drill kits, and OneGuide – the company's surgical guide for implant placement.
Reaching future goals
To realise its goals for 2026, the Osstem Implant Research Institute has set its focus on three goals: overcoming surgical limitations, enhancing practitioner convenience, and strengthening their digital competitive edge.
First in line, will be the development of a new two-piece narrow implant to supplement the TS short implant system, which allows practitioners to select the most suitable product based on the limitations of the implant placement environment.
The short implant is used when the vertical bone mass of the upper and lower jaws’ alveolar bone is insufficient, enabling the placement of an implant, while eliminating the need for a sinus lift.
Since 2011, Osstem Implant has been developing short implant products of varying sizes, capitalising on the 13.6% growth in the short implant systems market over the last five years.
The narrow MS implant is designed for the mandibular anterior region, where the bone width and interdental area are narrow, and the tooth size is small.
Despite its narrow diameter, it maintains strong stability, reducing the likelihood of sinking, micro-movement, or screw loosening. However, its integrated structure limits its use, and stable healing can be challenging in some cases.
Researchers at the Osstem Implant Research Institute conducting an implant fatigue measurement test.
The institute plans to launch new narrow two-piece implants that separates the body and abutment, retaining the MS implant's strength while mitigating these limitations.
The planned narrow implant will greatly improve prosthetic dentistry by optimising the implant body design through scientific analysis of the mandibular anterior region's structure and tooth morphology. It will also allow for versatile abutment assembly and replacement, enhancing convenience.
Another area the institute is zooming into, is designing new abutments, which are classified as either stock products or OneFit – individually customised digital abutments.
To cater to patients who cannot utilise stock abutments or OneFit, a new Smart ABT system developed based on big data, is being engineered.
This system recommends optimal abutments based on criteria such as sex, age, implant placement location, and tissue condition, enhancing surgery convenience and patient stability.
Learning from the learned
Senior researchers from the institute also recently conducted field visits to dental clinics to assess the use and comprehension of the surgical guide for extra-short dental implants, particularly OneGuide.
Nam Wu-chang, principal researcher at the Osstem Implant Research Institute, emphasised the importance of this initiative.
“It is important to continue this process of field inspection and explanation of the technique guides for relatively newer products or those that are yet to be widely distributed,” he said, adding that the company’s surgical guide is an essential component in driving digital dentistry.
In addition to that, the institute also initiated a joint research project with Seoul National University Dental Hospital to determine the time required for novice dentists to achieve proficiency using OneGuide in complex procedures.
OneGuide will be introduced in foreign markets once it receives regulatory approvals, and the research aims to facilitate its adoption in regions with limited implant surgery expertise and lower digital product awareness.
Consumer insights
The Osstem Implant Research Institute is also actively pursuing customer feedback through three primary initiatives to strengthen its research capabilities and improve existing products and product development.
These programmes include on-site visits to clinical facilities, open discussions and seminars, as well as problem-solving meetings.
Osstem Implant Research Institute director Yoon Ji-hoon (centre) with his team members at the TS implant exhibition hall.
Osstem Implant Research Institute director Yoon Ji-hoon (centre) with his team members at the TS implant exhibition hall.
The company’s objective is to harness its substantial data resources to create superior products and offer a customer-accessible data service.
To achieve this, the Osstem Implant Research Institute is collaborating with its in-house software AI team to develop an implant identification search service.
This AI program will automatically recognise implant types in images from dentist-uploaded intra-oral and CT scans, providing detailed product information, FAQs, and links to online purchasing.
Dentistry of the future
Apart from a focus on development, the company is also stepping up its efforts in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management.
Osstem Implant has, over the years, collaborated with other companies and governmental organisations to develop a plasma-dissolving process technology.
This innovative technology can streamline production processes and reduce manufacturing costs by recycling residual materials from titanium used in implants.
For more information about the Osstem Implant Research Institute, visit osstem.com.
