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I work with Dr Pirker (CEO/developer of BioImplant). AMA! BioImplant is one of those truly disruptive technologies: a new paradigm. It's interesting (as a HN

I work with Dr Pirker (CEO/developer of BioImplant). AMA! BioImplant is one of those truly disruptive technologies: a new paradigm. It's interesting (as a HN reader) to see such a tech story unfold in 'real time'. The biggest obstacle so far has been to foster awareness of this treatment option via popular media (ie. an article in an English-language newspaper/magazine). The dental world is fixated on simple screw type implants, which are costly, unnatural, and very rarely satisfactory.

candiodari 9y ago
Since you don't get a mold beforehand I'm guessing this is 3d printed. How do you get the 3d image of the tooth ?
- fractallyte 9y ago
  Yes, the title is slightly incorrect, there's no 3D printing involved. The implant is milled from a 3D scan of the extracted tooth. It's very much an artisan process, which we're hoping to make entirely digital.
  - justinclift 9y ago
    X-ray → CAD model → CNC machine?
    - fractallyte 9y ago
      That's pretty much the idea! A fully digital process would allow this treatment to be offered by any dentist, anywhere in the world (with a good internet connection, of course).
      - toomuchtodo 9y ago
        Could I have the X-ray taken in the US, digitally sent to your lab, and then show up at your lab with the new implant waiting? (Hypothetically)
        fractallyte 9y ago
        Not yet... With the right investor(s), that 'hypothetical' will change into an affirmative. (And you'd only have to travel to your local dentist.)
        toomuchtodo 9y ago
        No worries, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.
  - kwhitefoot 9y ago
    There are fully automatic machines for making crowns (I have two made on such a machine), surely the process should be much the same.
    - fractallyte 9y ago
      A crown is just the external part of the tooth. That's relatively easy to scan and reproduce. It's much more difficult to scan the root while it's 'in situ' in the jaw. Hence the careful extraction...
na85 9y ago
You need to seriously work on your website. It reads like one of those homeopathy websites promising water with molecular quantum memory that preys on stupid people who don't understand science.
- justinclift 9y ago
  Strangely, that's not the impression I get. For example, looking at the video's here communicates the concept pretty thoroughly: http://www.bioimplant.at/pictures/ http://www.bioimplant.at/pictures/ That's just my impression though. :)
vithren 9y ago
>The dental world is fixated on simple screw type implants, which are costly, unnatural, and very rarely satisfactory. Sure, but when "BioImplant™ is only suitable for an immediate implant (where extraction and implantation are part of the same procedure). You must already have a fresh tooth socket" traditional implant is the only way : (

candiodari 9y ago

Since you don't get a mold beforehand I'm guessing this is 3d printed. How do you get the 3d image of the tooth ?

fractallyte 9y ago
Yes, the title is slightly incorrect, there's no 3D printing involved. The implant is milled from a 3D scan of the extracted tooth. It's very much an artisan process, which we're hoping to make entirely digital.
- justinclift 9y ago
  X-ray → CAD model → CNC machine?
  - fractallyte 9y ago
    That's pretty much the idea! A fully digital process would allow this treatment to be offered by any dentist, anywhere in the world (with a good internet connection, of course).
    - toomuchtodo 9y ago
      Could I have the X-ray taken in the US, digitally sent to your lab, and then show up at your lab with the new implant waiting? (Hypothetically)
      - fractallyte 9y ago
        Not yet... With the right investor(s), that 'hypothetical' will change into an affirmative. (And you'd only have to travel to your local dentist.)
        toomuchtodo 9y ago
        No worries, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.
- kwhitefoot 9y ago
  There are fully automatic machines for making crowns (I have two made on such a machine), surely the process should be much the same.
  - fractallyte 9y ago
    A crown is just the external part of the tooth. That's relatively easy to scan and reproduce. It's much more difficult to scan the root while it's 'in situ' in the jaw. Hence the careful extraction...

na85 9y ago

You need to seriously work on your website. It reads like one of those homeopathy websites promising water with molecular quantum memory that preys on stupid people who don't understand science.

justinclift 9y ago
Strangely, that's not the impression I get. For example, looking at the video's here communicates the concept pretty thoroughly: http://www.bioimplant.at/pictures/ http://www.bioimplant.at/pictures/ That's just my impression though. :)

vithren 9y ago

>The dental world is fixated on simple screw type implants, which are costly, unnatural, and very rarely satisfactory. Sure, but when "BioImplant™ is only suitable for an immediate implant (where extraction and implantation are part of the same procedure). You must already have a fresh tooth socket" traditional implant is the only way : (