Purchase and Shipping Questions
Q. Where can I buy Densah® Bur Products?
A. Click here to view Versah Shop.
Q. What are the prices of the Densah® Bur products?
A. Click here to view Versah Shop.
Q. I only place tapered implants, so do I need to buy the full Densah® Bur Kit (VDBK)?
A. The VT5 Densah® Bur Kit of 4 progressively larger tapered burs is sufficient for most X.5 X.7 and X.8 implant applications. (VT8 Densah® Bur Kit is used for placing X.0, X.2, X.3 implants.) In dense bone, it may be advisable to implement a milder expansion rate by progressively alternating VT5 and VT8 Densah® Burs. For placing tapered implants in dense bone, the practitioner will want both the VT5 & VT8 Densah® Burs. The VDBK Densah® Bur Kit contains all of the burs in VT5 and VT8 kits, plus four VS8 finishing burs needed to place straight (non-tapered) implants.
Find a Densah® Bur Bundle specific to your preferred implant system.
Q. I only place straight (non-tapered) implants, so do I only need to buy the VS8 Densah® Bur Kit?
A. The VS8 Densah® Bur Kit contains four “finishing” burs for placing straight (non-tapered) implants. The VS8 Densah® Bur Kit must be paired with either the VT5 or the VT8 Densah® Bur kit to accomplish all but the final osteotomy expansion steps. In dense bone, it may be advisable to implement a milder expansion rate by progressively alternating the VT5 and VT8 Densah® Burs. For placing straight implants in these dense bone, the practitioner will want the full VDBK Densah® Bur Kit, which contains all of the burs in the VT5 & VT8 plus the VS8 Densah® Burs.
Click here to find a Densah® Bur Bundle specific to your preferred implant system.
Technical Questions
Q. What is Densah® Bur Technology?
A. The Densah® Bur technology is based on advanced technology for osteotomy preparation that we have coined “osseodensification.” Unlike traditional bone drilling technologies, osseodensification does not excavate bone tissue. Rather, bone tissue is simultaneously compacted and auto-grafted in an outwardly expanding direction to form the osteotomy, somewhat akin to a traditional hammered osteotome but without the trauma and other limitations. When a Densah® Bur is rotated at high speed in a reversed, non-cutting direction with steady external irrigation, a strong and dense layer of bone tissue is formed along the walls and base of the osteotomy.
Q. How does Densah® Bur Technology work?
A. The multi-fluted Densah® Bur creates and expands a pilot hole without excavating significant amounts of bone tissue through a unique, highly controllable, fast and efficient procedure with minimal heat elevation. In the densifying mode, downward surgical pressure coupled with steady external irrigation creates a gentle hydrodynamic compression wave inside the osteotomy that works with the fluting to generate a strong, densified layer of surrounding bone while plastically expanding the bony ridge at the same time. The taper design allows the surgeon to modulate pressure and irrigation, while providing a unique real-time haptic feedback that makes the Densah® Bur intuitive for every skilled practitioner. Densah® Burs can be rotated in the clockwise cutting direction to cleanly cut bone like a traditional surgical bur. This dual use capability enables the qualified practitioner to concurrently prepare multiple osteotomy sites of different width/bone conditions by either osseodensifying or drilling each site without removing the Densah® Bur from the drill motor.
Click here to view Instructions For Use. Click here to watch Educational Video.
Q. Do I need to use special implants with the Densah® Bur?
A. No. You can use any tapered or straight anchor/implant that you would otherwise choose for a particular application. Select the correct Densah® Bur Kit based on your preferred implant type and size.
Click here to find your Implant System Drilling Protocols (Densifying Reference Guide).
Q. What patients make good candidates for the Densah® Bur osseodensification procedure?
A. All patients otherwise healthy enough for receiving dental implants are candidates for osseodensification.
Q. Is Osseodensification biomechanically valid?
A. The Experimental Biomechanics Laboratory at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan performed a biomechanical as well as histological validation study of the Densah® Bur osseodensification technology in 2013-2014.
View Lawrence Technological University Research Poster.
Q. Is the Densah® Bur osseodensification procedure more painful for my patient?
A. Patient-sensed discomfort associated with the Densah® Bur procedure is equivalent to that of traditional drilling.
Q. How long does the average osseodensification procedure take?
A. Most surgical practitioners are surprised at the fast feed rates of each progressively larger Densah® Bur. Numerous videos showing actual surgical procedures have been uploaded to our website that will give you a realistic understanding of just how efficient this new technology is. For an average large dental implant (in the 5.7-6.0mm range), the pilot osteotomy is followed by four progressively larger Densah® Burs. Narrower implants typically take less time because fewer expansion steps to reach final osteotomy size are required. Osteotomies in Dense bone might take slightly more time if you need to progressively alternate the VT5 and VT8 burs to reach the final osteotomy size.
Click here To View Educational Videos.
Q. What differences will I notice with the osseodensification procedure?
A. The most striking difference most dental surgeons will notice is the modulation technique. The unique design of the Densah® Bur combined with irrigation creates a gentle hydrodynamic compression wave inside the osteotomy. The surgeon will feel through their handpiece the “push-back” from this hydrodynamic compression wave and be able to control its intensity by modulating downward pressure. This real-time haptic feedback enables the skilled practitioner to intuitively find the pressure point at which the bone begins to plastically expand. The surgeon then controls (i.e., modulates) the downward pressure so that the osteotomy continues expanding at a suitable rate.
Q. Do I need a pilot hole?
A.Yes. The formation of a standard 1.7mm pilot hole to the desired depth must precede the use of the first 1525 or 1828 Densah® Bur. Never use a Densah® Bur without a properly sized initial pilot hole.
Q. Can I skip the recommended progression of Densah® Burs in suitably soft bone?
A.No. Even in soft bone, the recommended progression of Densah® Burs must be followed. For example: 3.5, 3.7 and 3.8 mm diameter-tapered implants, the progression following a 1.7mm pilot hole is 1525, 2535. For 4.0, 4.2 and 4.3mm diameter-tapered implants, the progression following a 1.7mm pilot hole is 1828, 2838.
Q. Where can I receive training to effectively use the Densah® Bur procedure?
A. Monthly hands-on courses are available through our Chicago Training Facility. Visit Osseodensificationacademy.com to view a full list of dates and course details.
Live outside of the US and want to attend a Training Course? Check out our International Event Page for opportunities coming nearest to you.
Q. May I eliminate the step of ridge augmentation in narrow ridges prior to implant placement?
A. With the Densah® Bur system you may be able to place an implant utilizing the Plus1™ Protocol. This protocol may allow the placement of an implant that is up to 1mm larger in diameter than the pre-surgical narrow ridge, without augmentation. For example, The Densah® Bur system may allow placement of a 3.7-4.0 mm tapered implant in a minimum ridge width of 3mm. A 5mm implant may be placed in a 4mm ridge. And a 6mm implant may be placed in a 5mm ridge.
Click here To View Osseodensification Clinical Protocols.
Q. What kinds of equipment are needed for the Densah® Bur?
A. Any commercially available surgical drill motor and handpiece that are capable of operating in both forward (clockwise) and reverse (counterclockwise) directions, and can achieve at least 1200 rpm with torque 5-50 Ncm in both directions, will work with the Densah® Bur system.
Q. Is it necessary to irrigate the osteotomy site during the osseodensification procedure?
A. Yes. Apply an abundant steady flow of sterile irrigating fluid to the osteotomy site throughout the procedure. Without ample irrigation, the risk of overheating and necrosis is high. Irrigation is necessary to facilitate the plastic deformation expansion of the bony tissue.
Q. Is the Densah® Bur Reusable?
A. The Surgical drills and Burs should be replaced when they are dulled, worn out, or corroded. Versah recommends replacing surgical drills and burs after 12-20 osteotomies[01]. It is recommended that replacement Densah® Burs be on hand in the event replacement is needed during a surgery.
Q. Can my Densah® Burs be re-sharpened/re-furbished?
A. Unfortunately, the manufacturing tolerances needed to achieve the requisite performance of our Densah®Burs are so precise that re-sharpening is not possible. Please dispose of used Densah® Burs that have reached the end of their useful life in a safe and responsible manner.
Q. Can Densah® Burs be used with computer generated implant placement guides?
A. At this time, Densah® Burs are not compatible with any implant placement guide systems. We have our own fully Guided Surgery System. Learn more about Versah’s Guided Surgery System.
Q. Can I run the standard drilling bits in my implant kit in reverse to replicate the Versah osseodensification protocol?
A. Unlike conventional drills, Densah® burs are specially designed for the Versah osseodensification protocol. Densah® burs provide smooth, chatter-less operation at high-speed reverse rotation (800-1500 RPM).
[01] Heat Production by 3 implant drill systems after repeated drilling and sterilization. Chacon GE, Bower DL, Larsen PE, McGlumphy EA, Beck FM. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2006 Feb:64(2):265-9.
[02] Trisi, P., et al., Implant micromotion is related to peak insertion torque and bone density. Clin Oral Implants Res, 2009. 20(5): p. 467-71.
[03] Winwood, K., et al., The importance of the elastic and plastic components of strain in tensile and compressive fatigue of human cortical bone in relation to orthopaedic biomechanics. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact, 2006. 6(2): p. 134-41.
[04] Bashutski JD, D.S.N., Wang HL, Implant pressure necrosis: Current understanding and case report. J Periodontal 2009; 80:700-704., 2009(80): p. 700-704.
[05] Haider R, e.a., Histomorphometric analysis of bone healing after insertion of IMZ-1 implants independent of bone structure and drilling method. Stomatol, 1991(88): p. 507-521.
[06] Trisi, P., et al., High versus low implant insertion torque: a histologic, histomorphometric, and biomechanical study in the sheep mandible. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants, 2011. 26(4): p. 837-49.
[07] Ottoni, J.M., et al., Correlation between placement torque and survival of single-tooth implants. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants, 2005. 20(5): p. 769-76.
[08] Khayat PG1, A.H., Tourbah BI, Sennerby L., Clinical outcome of dental implants placed with high insertion torques (up to 176 Ncm). Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. , 2013. 15(2): p. 227-33.
[09] Perren, S.M., et al., The reaction of cortical bone to compression. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl, 1969. 125: p. 19-29.
[10] Svindland, A.D., et al., Periosteal response to transient ischemia. Histological studies on the rat tibia. Acta Orthop Scand, 1995. 66(5): p. 468-72.
[11] Halldin, A., et al., The effect of static bone strain on implant stability and bone remodeling. Bone, 2011. 49(4): p. 783-9.
[12] Perren, S.M., Evolution of the internal fixation of long bone fractures. The scientific basis of biological internal fixation: choosing a new balance between stability and biology. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 2002. 84(8): p. 1093-110
10353 REV09 08/2023