Discontinued implant library: finding legacy implants

A patient shows up with an implant placed fifteen years ago, and the manufacturer is no longer on the market — a situation familiar to anyone working in prosthetics. Finding a discontinued implant library (a library for a system withdrawn from production) is harder than the current lineup, but more often than not it exists: implants live in bone for decades, and the CAD libraries for them don't disappear.

Let's look at where to find legacy implants, how to identify a rare system by its connection, and what to do if the exact library isn't available.

A discontinued system isn't a lost one. Its library is needed as long as even a single such implant remains in bone.

Why a system gets discontinued while its library is still needed

Systems leave the market for three reasons. First, mergers and acquisitions, when a brand dissolves into a larger one: Astra Tech and Xive went to Dentsply Sirona, and Zimmer Biomet's implant division became ZimVie. Second, a company leaving entirely. Third, the targeted removal of outdated lineups in favor of new connections.

In every case, the fixtures remain in patients' bone. The installed base of older systems runs into the millions of placed implants, so demand for legacy libraries stays steady. Steri-Oss, Brånemark Mk, Frialit-2, Replace Select, early 3i Osseotite platforms — all of this still shows up regularly in the clinic and needs a crown or bridge replaced.

Where to find legacy implant libraries

The first and most reliable source is a large catalog. DentalLibs has 1058 implant libraries for exocad and 1271 for exoplan, including many old and rare platforms that are no longer in the manufacturers' official installers. For RealGUIDE, 187 sets are available. The larger the catalog, the higher your chance of finding your exact discontinued system.

If the catalog doesn't have the system under its old name, check a few additional paths:

search under the brand's new owner (Astra and Xive are in the Dentsply Sirona section, old Zimmer under ZimVie);
pull the manufacturer's archived installers for the relevant year;
look for a compatible system with the same connection geometry;
pick a library by connection type and platform diameter, not by name.

How to identify a discontinued system by its connection

The main challenge with a rare implant is figuring out exactly what's in the bone. A fifteen-year-old label on the box often means nothing to current software, and an X-ray shows only a silhouette. Rely on the connection type and the platform.

There are only a few key connection types, and they can usually be told apart on a radiograph:

external hex — the classic of Brånemark and early 3i;
internal hex — most later systems;
conical connection — Morse taper of various angles;
tri-lobe — Nobel's proprietary geometry.

Platform diameter (NP/RP/WP) and connection height narrow the search down to a specific library. If the patient chart has no data, the connection shape can be assessed from a periapical X-ray.

What to do if the exact library isn't available

The absence of a library under the old name isn't a dead end. Two paths work. First, a compatible system: many manufacturers copy the geometry of popular connections, so a compatible brand's library with the same external hex or conical connection will physically fit the fixture.

The second path is selecting a Ti-Base (titanium base) by connection type rather than by implant name. If the base seats on the fixture, the Ti-Base's own library solves the task, not the original system's. This approach often covers most rare cases.

Verify compatibility by connection geometry and recommended torque, not by the marketing name. An error at the library level leaves a gap and lets the screw loosen.

Checklist for choosing a library for a rare implant

Before opening a project in exocad or exoplan, run through a short list — it saves time and rules out an error with incompatible geometry:

confirm the brand and year of placement from the patient chart or referral;
check whether the system's owner has changed, and search under the current brand;
determine the connection type and platform diameter;
no original — pick a compatible system or Ti-Base by connection;
verify geometry and torque before milling the abutment.

Legacy systems only seem like a problem until the first successful match. A large catalog and an understanding of connection types cover almost all cases with discontinued implants.

FAQ about libraries for discontinued implants

Can you find a library for a discontinued implant?

Most of the time, yes. Implants stay in bone for decades, and their libraries are preserved in large catalogs even after a brand leaves the market.

Where did the Astra Tech or Xive library go?

These lineups moved to Dentsply Sirona. Look for them under the brand's new owner, not under the original name.

What to do if the exact library isn't available?

Use a compatible system with the same connection geometry, or pick a Ti-Base by connection type rather than by implant name.

How do you tell which system a patient has?

Rely on the connection type (external hex, conical, tri-lobe) and the platform diameter. The connection shape can be assessed from a periapical X-ray.