Fig.2: This is the typical shape of Tatum tapered implant.  The first 5 or 6 mm implant is cyclindrical, whereas the rest is tapered.  When the implant is 11 mm long, the first portion is 5 mm long, whereas 14 mm or more vs. 6 mm.  The first 2 or 3 mm of the cylindrical portion is smooth (white outline), contacting the gingiva (to heave soft tissue seal from the oral cavity), whereas the second portion (always 3 mm long) is rough, supposed to contact the bone (to have bony seal).  The tapered portion has threads on the surface.  The threads should be engaged into the bone for stability.

If bacteria invade the threads, the implant should have guarded prognosis. 

The apical end of the taper should be smaller, for example 4 mm vs. 6 mm.  When Bicon reamers are used for osteotomy (to save bone), the largest one should be 4 mm.  Then taps or Tatum tapered drills are used to create taper.

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Xin Wei, DDS, PhD, MS 1st edition 09/22/2013, last revision 09/22/2013