About us
Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark (right) with his first implant patient Gösta Larsson (left).
Meaningful innovation since 1952
Our success is built on over 60 years of experience stemming from Per-Ingvar Brånemark’s ground-breaking work with osseointegration. Being the pioneer of implant science, we have introduced a number of solutions that have become leading standards in the industry.
We have an impressive history and an even brighter future. We will continue to push the boundaries of dental treatment as we strive to help our customers treat more patients better.
1952 - Brånemark discovers osseointegration
In the 1950s as a young researcher, Per-Ingvar Brånemark was completely absorbed in the study of the anatomy of blood flow.
As part of that work, he attached a titanium-housed optical component to a rabbit’s leg, which made it possible to study microcirculation in the bone tissue through specially modified microscopes.
The work at hand was completed successfully, but when it came time to remove the metal-framed optics from the bone, he famously discovered that the bone and titanium had become virtually inseparable.
“Not long afterwards,” Brånemark said, “we changed the direction of our work to investigate the body’s ability to tolerate titanium.”
1965 - First titanium implant patient
In 1965, Gösta Larsson of Gothenburg, Sweden, was an oral invalid. This was before the first osseointegrated dental implants, carefully placed by Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark, dramatically changed his life. Sadly, both men are no longer with us, but their legacy lives on.
After extensive clinical trials and years of additional research, Per-Ingvar Brånemark and the Swedish company Bofors went on to found Nobelpharma, which later became Nobel Biocare.
With dental implants becoming a common treatment for people suffering from tooth loss, millions of patients around the world regained their quality of life.
1988 – First zygomatic implants
In 1988 Prof. Brånemark introduced zygomatic implants designed to rehabilitate the upper maxilla. The Brånemark System Zygoma is the most documented Zygoma implant solution on the market for the severely resorbed maxilla when bone grafting is not an option.1
Building on over 25 years of success with the Nobel Biocare zygomatic implants the new NobelZygoma implants also provide alternative treatment options for severe maxillary resorption without bone grafting.
1989 - First ceramic CAD/CAM coping
In 1983, Dr. Matts Andersson developed the Procera method for high-precision industrial manufacturing of dental crowns. 1989 brought the next leap in function and esthetics for dental prosthetics: the introduction of the first ceramic CAD/CAM coping.
With the translucent alumina core of Procera AllCeram, esthetics and strength were no longer mutually exclusive.
1997 - First tapered implant
The launch of Replace introduced the first tapered dental implant.
It mimicked the shape of a natural tooth root and was designed to provide higher initial stability than the parallel-walled implants available at the time.
Replace Select and NobelReplace Tapered went on to become the world’s most frequently used implant system.
1998 - All-on-4® treatment concept
For decades, the cost of dental implant treatment was too high for many edentulous patients. There were also obstacles for the clinician. Given that these patients often suffer from severe bone resorption, finding adequate bone to place an implant was a challenge.
We collaborated with Dr. Paulo Maló to find a solution, and the result was the All-on-4® treatment concept.
With its tilted and immediately loaded implants, it helps avoid complex grafting procedures and immediately improves function and esthetics.
2000 - TiUnite surface improves outcomes
After two decades that saw universal use of the two-staged Brånemark osseointegration protocol, studies indicated that a one-stage procedure with early or even immediate loading was also a safe option.
This would make it possible to reduce healing time and the number of surgeries, resulting in shorter time-to-teeth. However, to avoid a drop in stability in the critical healing phase, a new surface was needed to speed up bone growth.
The solution was TiUnite – a moderately rough titanium oxide layer with high crystallinity and a high phosphorus content, resulting in high bone-to-implant contact and fast osseointegration. Since then TiUnite has built a reputation for success and is one of the most clinically researched implant surfaces in the world.
2005 - Immediate Function receives FDA clearance
In 2005, Immediate Function received clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – at the time, this was unique only to Nobel Biocare.
Thanks to the implant surface TiUnite, immediate loading is a predictable treatment alternative and can make a big difference to both clinicians and patients: Shorter treatment time, fewer appointments, favorable clinical outcomes and high patient satisfaction.
2005 - First guided surgery system
In 2005, NobelGuide digitized dental implantology by introducing the first comprehensive concept for 3D treatment planning and guided surgery.
For the first time, clinicians could order custom-made surgical templates to turn their plans into reality.
Today, the planning software NobelClinician and the guided surgery concept NobelGuide not only help clinicians to place implants predictably and achieve an optimized restorative outcome, but also to collaborate with their network and to communicate effectively with their patients.
2008 - NobelActive is released
2008 was the year when we introduced an implant like no other: NobelActive.
It’s designed for high primary stability and soft and hard tissue preservation – even in soft bone, the esthetic area and fresh extraction sockets.
In other words: NobelActive can allow for Immediate Function in cases where it might otherwise be impossible.
2015 - A complete posterior solution
Though a common indication, single-unit molar restorations pose many challenges: large extraction sockets, difficult removal of excess cement and high occlusal forces.
This is why we launched our complete posterior solution.
It’s designed to overcome these challenges while reducing complexity, risks and time-to-teeth.
1 Data on file
2 Depending on clinician preference and close cooperation with the laboratory.