The Differences Between Implant Types: How a Dentist Who Has Placed 30,000 Implants Really Chooses a Brand

"Doctor, I looked it up online,

and they said Straumann is the best.

Please use that for me, too."

I am Kim Tae-hyung, director of Blanche Dental Clinic.

Speaking frankly as someone who performs implant surgeries every week,

many patients come in specifically requesting a particular brand like this.

I completely understand how you feel. It is only natural to want the best when it is going into your own body.

However, speaking frankly as a dentist, an expensive brand is not the right answer for every case.

When we take a CT scan, each person’s bone condition, gum condition, and implant placement site are all different.

Even with the same brand, there are certainly cases where it fits one person perfectly but is actually unsuitable for another.

So today, I will explain how implant types differ and the criteria I actually use when choosing among them.

Why are there so many different implant brands?

There are more than several hundred implant brands around the world.

Of these, the three brands most commonly used in dental clinics in Korea are Straumann, Osstem, and MegaGen. Each has a different position in the market.

To put it simply, they are similar to cars. Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Kia all make good cars, but their price ranges and strengths differ. That does not mean Mercedes-Benz is always the best. Just as an Avante may be more practical for commuting around the city, the key with implants is to choose one that suits your oral condition.

I serve as an official clinical advisor for four of the world’s leading implant manufacturers, so I have used all four brands.

That means I can judge which brand is suitable for which situation in each case, rather than simply saying, “This one is better.”

Straumann, Osstem, and MegaGen — What are the differences?

Here is a summary of the key differences among the three brands.

Category	Straumann (Switzerland)	Osstem (Korea)	MegaGen (Korea)
Positioning	Global premium	No. 1 in domestic market share	No. 1 in exports to Europe
Key strengths	SLA surface treatment, rapid osseointegration	Optimized for Korean oral conditions, extensive clinical data	Strong primary stability
Suitable cases	Poor bone condition, aesthetically important areas such as the front teeth	Typical molars and multiple implants	Cost-conscious patients, most standard cases
Price (Blanche 기준)	KRW 2.3 million	KRW 790,000	KRW 790,000

Straumann is based on Swiss precision engineering, and its surface treatment technology, SLA, is particularly distinctive.

It integrates with bone quickly and has the most extensive long-term stability data.

For that reason, it has particular strengths when used in areas with poor bone condition or in aesthetically important areas such as the front teeth.

Osstem has the largest domestic market share and offers a diverse lineup designed to suit the oral structures of Koreans.

With more than 20 years of accumulated clinical data in Korea, it is a brand that can be used reliably in most cases.

As the leading exporter to Europe, MegaGen is characterized by its strong primary stability.

To be honest, although I am the dentist who has placed the most Straumann implants in Gangnam, MegaGen is the brand I consider number one for value for money. It is a product that is quietly well made, and it is also the brand we place most often at our clinic.

This is more important than the brand

It is natural for patients to focus on brands. When you search online, brand comparisons are usually the first thing that comes up.

However, after placing more than 30,000 implants, there is one thing I have become certain of.

Even with the same Straumann implant, the outcome can be completely different depending on the experience of the dentist placing it, the precision of the treatment plan, and care after surgery.

It is like using good parts: they are of no use if they are assembled incorrectly.

That is why I try to keep treatment plans as simple as possible. More complicated does not necessarily mean better treatment.

Especially for older patients, my principle is to reduce the number of implants and, whenever possible, avoid placing implants that are not necessary.

I believe that placing even one fewer unnecessary implant is a true measure of skill.

Let me be honest about the price differences

There is a considerable price difference among brands.

At our clinic, MegaGen and Osstem cost KRW 790,000, while Straumann costs KRW 2.3 million.

Additional costs, such as bone grafting, may vary depending on your individual oral condition.

Looking at price alone, Straumann costs nearly three times as much.

So it is neither a matter of choosing “Straumann no matter what” nor of assuming that “cheaper means inferior.”

Once a CT scan confirms your bone condition and the implant placement site, you can finally determine which brand is most suitable for your situation.

If you are curious about the implant surgery process or the cost of bone grafting, please refer to this article as well.

Implant types and brands are not something that should be chosen based solely on information found online.

You need to make a comprehensive decision based on how much bone remains, where the implant will be placed, and the condition of the surrounding teeth.

If anything remains unclear after reading this post, or if you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment. ^^

This was Blanche Dental Clinic in Banpo. Thank you.