Osseodensification
Pronunciation: os-ee-oh-den-sih-fih-KAY-shun
A drilling technique that compacts and preserves bone rather than removing it during osteotomy preparation, improving implant primary stability.
Full Definition
Osseodensification is a non-extractive drilling protocol in which specially designed burs (commonly Versah Densah Burs) rotate in a clockwise direction to plasticise and autograft bone laterally and apically into the osteotomy walls. Unlike conventional drilling, which discards bone chips, osseodensification preserves native bone tissue and increases bone density at the implant site. The technique is particularly beneficial in low-density bone (Lekholm & Zarb type III–IV) where primary stability is otherwise difficult to achieve. Editors encountering this term should note it is distinct from simple bone condensing or osteotome techniques, as it involves a specific bur system and protocol.
Usage
Usage note: Spell as one word; do not hyphenate. The proprietary protocol is associated with the Versah system, but the term has entered general clinical usage.
In Context
- "The surgeon employed osseodensification to maximise primary stability in the type IV posterior maxilla." — Surgical case report
- "Osseodensification differs from traditional osteotome expansion in that it relies on rotary burs rather than hand instruments." — Clinical technique article