Nobel Biocare vs Straumann vs Osstem implants: which is right for you?

Dental implant brands are not interchangeable. The three systems most commonly discussed by UK patients considering Vietnam are Osstem, Nobel Biocare, and Straumann. Each has a distinct history, evidence base, and clinical use case. Here is an honest comparison.

Osstem (South Korea)

Osstem was founded in South Korea in 1997 and is the most widely used implant system in Asia by unit volume. It is also the implant most commonly placed at Picasso Dental Clinic.

Key facts:

• ISO-certified and CE-marked, sold in 80+ countries
• Long-term peer-reviewed clinical studies support the system’s performance
• Wide range of fixture diameters and lengths for different anatomical situations
• Extensive network of replacement parts in Vietnam and South Korea

Combo price at Picasso (May 2026): GBP 725 (fixture + healing abutment + final abutment + ceramic crown)

Best for:

• Standard single-tooth replacement
• Cases with good bone volume and quality
• Patients for whom cost is an important factor
• Straightforward implant positions (premolars, molars)

Osstem is not a budget implant. It is a fully certified, clinically validated system that happens to be manufactured in South Korea rather than Europe, which affects the price. For the majority of implant cases, Osstem performs to the same standard as premium European brands.

Nobel Biocare (Switzerland)

Nobel Biocare traces its origins to the laboratory of Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark, the Swedish scientist who first observed osseointegration in 1952 and published the foundational research that made modern implantology possible. Nobel Biocare was established to commercialise Brånemark’s protocols and has been manufacturing implants since the 1970s.

The All-on-4 protocol itself was developed in partnership with Nobel Biocare, using their specific implant geometry for the tilted posterior implants.

Dr. Tran Thanh Phong, Head of Implantology at Picasso, has been a Nobel Biocare clinical representative in Vietnam since 2007. He has placed over 15,000 implants and more than 1,000 All-on-4 cases over a career spanning 25+ years.

Key facts:

• 40+ years of published clinical research
• Nobel Active, Nobel Parallel CC, Nobel Replace among the flagship systems
• Manufactured in Sweden and the United States under Swiss corporate ownership
• All-on-4 immediate loading protocol is a Nobel Biocare-developed technique

Combo price at Picasso (May 2026): GBP 1,160 (fixture + healing abutment + final abutment + ceramic crown)

Best for:

• Complex cases with challenging bone anatomy
• All-on-4 full arch restoration
• Immediate loading where same-day temporisation is planned
• Patients who want the most established clinical data behind their implant

Straumann (Switzerland)

Straumann is the world’s largest dental implant company by unit volume. Founded in Switzerland in 1954, it operates in over 100 countries and invests heavily in clinical research and continuing education.

Straumann’s BLX system is a Bone Level Tapered implant designed specifically for high primary stability in varying bone density, which is what makes it suitable for immediate loading.

Key facts:

• World’s largest implant company by volume
• Extensive evidence base, widely used by oral surgeons and specialist implantologists
• Straumann BLX: tapered design achieves high torque values for immediate loading
• Straumann acquired Neodent (Brazil) in 2012; both brands are in the Straumann Group

Combo prices at Picasso (May 2026):

• Straumann standard: GBP 1,160
• Straumann BLX: GBP 1,304

Best for:

• Complex cases requiring precise surgical planning
• Immediate loading protocols (BLX)
• Patients who want the system used by the highest volume of specialist practitioners worldwide

Side-by-side comparison

How to choose

For most patients, the right answer is: let Dr. Tran Thanh Phong recommend the system after reviewing your CBCT scan.

The CBCT shows bone volume, density, height, and width. The angle and depth available for each implant site determine which fixture dimensions are appropriate. Some positions suit a specific implant geometry better than others. This is a clinical decision, not a marketing one.

If you have a preference for a specific brand, tell the clinic. All systems are available and all are placed regularly by the team. No system is unavailable or discouraged.

If cost is a primary consideration and your anatomy is straightforward, Osstem at GBP 725 is a sound clinical choice. If you want the longest evidence base and are having a full arch case, Nobel Biocare or Straumann at GBP 1,160 carries the deeper research history.

The UK comparison

UK implant clinics typically use Nobel Biocare, Straumann, or Zimmer Biomet. What most UK patients do not know is that the brand used is rarely disclosed in the treatment price. You pay GBP 2,500 to GBP 4,000 per implant regardless of which fixture is placed, and the choice is made by the dentist without a price implication for the patient.

At Picasso, the brand choice is transparent and directly reflected in the price. You can ask for Osstem at GBP 725 or Nobel Biocare at GBP 1,160 and receive a written quote specifying exactly which system is being placed. This transparency helps you make an informed decision rather than assuming all implants are the same.

Request a free itemised GBP quote specifying your preferred brand