[Radiographic identification of dental implants in Israel]

Not infrequently a patient will attend seeking treatment for replacement of a lost abutment and crown from an implant placed by another dentist and no dental records are available. Many different root form implants of various designs, dimensions, surfaces, and connectors are available today posing a problem for the restorative dentist who must choose prosthetic parts that fit the implant or for a forensic dentist attempting to identify a victim. Implants installed in bone may be identified only by radiographs and knowledge of implant morphology. Four articles (1-4) were published between 1992-2002 dealing with the radiographic identification of implants. Since then many new implants have appeared on the market. Implants made in Israel do not appear at all on any of the lists. The object of this article is to provide radiographic pictures of implants available in Israel today together with a description of their radiographic features to enable Israeli dentists to identify implants where no dental records are available.