The Ihde Method

Which country are Ihde implants from?

The short answer is Switzerland, but the country is not what people asking this really want to know

People who ask this question are usually not after the name of a country but a measure of trust: is this implant well made, is there an organisation behind it, and what happens if something goes wrong later on? The country answers only one of those questions, and the weakest one at that. On this page we give a clear answer on origin and set out the three things that really determine how reliable an implant is.

Short answer

The implant system known by the Ihde name belongs to a manufacturer based in Switzerland, while Prof. Dr. Stefan Ihde, after whom the approach is named, is a dentist of German origin who worked in Switzerland for many years. Origin alone, however, is no guarantee of quality. What you really need to look at in an implant system is certification under medical device regulations, how long the system has been on the market, and whether its spare parts can still be obtained years later.

Manufacturer's headquarters: Switzerland
Dentist the method is named after: Prof. Dr. Stefan Ihde, of German origin
What origin tells you: Not a measure of quality on its own
Three things that really matter: Certification, continuity, spare parts

Medically reviewed by Bilge Ilgın, Dentist · ImplantologyLast reviewed 2026-09-08

What origin tells you, and what it does not

First, the direct answer: the implant system known by this name belongs to a manufacturer based in Switzerland. Prof. Dr. Stefan Ihde, after whom the approach is named, is a dentist of German origin who carried out most of his work in Switzerland. So both the product and the approach originate in Central Europe.

Now to how useful that information actually is. When patients ask about origin, what they are really asking is: is this thing well made? The name of a country answers only a small part of that question. Any one country has very good manufacturers and mediocre ones, and in the same way, a product labelled 'Swiss made' may have parts that can no longer be obtained ten years later. A country is a place of manufacture, not a quality certificate.

The first thing you really need to look at is certification. Dental implants count as medical devices: to be sold in Europe they must comply with medical device regulations, and to be used in Turkey they must be listed in the relevant authority's registration system. Whether the system a clinic uses appears in these records is a fair question to ask, and a good clinic will not mind being asked.

Second, continuity. An implant system is not just the implant screw; it is a complete set that includes the abutments that fit on top, the screws and the impression components. If you need a part replaced years later, that part has to still be in production. With a system that has been withdrawn from the market, even replacing a single loose screw can turn into remaking all the teeth fitted on top.

Third, and the one most often overlooked: whether you are given a record of your implants. The brand, diameter and length of each implant used, and where it was placed, should be in your hands in writing. When you move to another city, move to another country or see a different dentist, this is the only thing you will have. Knowing the country of origin will not help you; this record will.

Finally, let us be clear about this: in the chain that determines how long an implant lasts, the product is only one link. Of two treatments carried out with the same system, one can go ten years without any problems while the other runs into trouble within two. What makes the difference is the planning, the stability achieved at placement, the bite adjustment made on the day the teeth are fitted, and the maintenance that follows. Origin determines none of these four.

What to look for in an implant system

The criteria below apply whatever the brand, and each one can be asked about and checked.

The tooth can be saved

Systems certified in line with regulationsSystems that carry the documentation required for medical devices and are registered in Turkey. Asking the clinic for this information is a normal request.
Systems with a long history on the marketA system that has been in use for years has both long-term clinical data and a continued supply of parts. A new system is not necessarily worse, but nothing yet guarantees how it will fare ten years from now.
Systems whose parts you can still getWhen screws, abutments and impression components are still available, a small repair later on stays a small repair.
Systems whose record is given to the patientThe brand, diameter, length and position should be given to you in writing. Without this document, it is harder for another dentist to carry on the work.

Saving it is unlikely to hold

Systems whose name and record are not sharedIf you are not told which implant was used, every dentist who works in your mouth later on is working blind. Reluctance to give out this information is a warning sign in itself.
Discontinued systemsSpare parts run out over time. A loose screw may mean all the teeth fitted on top have to be remade, which is a more expensive job than the implant itself.
Systems chosen on origin aloneThe country name is widely used as a selling point, but on its own it guarantees neither certification nor continuity. The decision should be made by weighing all three together.
Sizes that do not suit your mouthThe best system is the one with a diameter and length that suit your bone. A wide implant in narrow bone causes problems, whatever its origin.

Questions to ask at the clinic

Questions with a short, clear answer. Not getting an answer is an answer in itself.

1
Which system do you use?
Its name, its manufacturer and how long it has been in use. At a clinic that cannot give you a clear answer, any future repair becomes your problem.
2
Is this system registered in Turkey?
Dental implants count as medical devices and must appear in the relevant registers before they can be used. This is information you can ask about and that can be shown to you.
3
Will I be given an implant record?
Brand, diameter, length and position. Most clinics hand this information over on a ready-made card; if yours does not, ask for it.
4
Will parts still be available years from now?
With a widely used system, this is not a problem. With an unknown system, ten years is a long time.
5
Why did you decide this system suits me?
The answer should relate to the condition of your bone: its width, height, density and the load that is planned. 'We always use this one' is a valid answer, but an incomplete one.

Things that matter more than origin

The four areas below determine how long an implant lasts far more than the country name does.

Planning

Which layer of bone the implants are placed in, at what angle, and how many are used. This decision, made on a CBCT scan, determines the whole supporting structure and is the hardest thing to correct later.

Stability achieved at placement

How firmly the implant sits in the bone is measured. If the implant is loaded before the expected value is reached, even the best product cannot save the result.

Bite adjustment

A bridge that does not spread the load evenly will cause loose screws, fractures in the prosthesis and bone loss within months. The time spent on this adjustment on the day the teeth are fitted makes more difference than the choice of brand.

Regular maintenance

Inflammation around the implant (peri-implantitis) causes bone loss without any pain. The only thing that catches it early is regular check-ups; no country of origin can do that job.

False expectations built on origin

The statements below are the ones heard most often in practice, and each of them is incomplete.

Being made in Europe does not guarantee the result

The difference between two treatments carried out with the same system usually comes not from the product but from the planning and the bite adjustment. Origin determines neither of these.

A cheap system is not necessarily a bad one

There are affordable systems that have been on the market for a long time and have data behind them. What really matters is not the price but the system's continuity and access to its parts.

Origin is no substitute for the dentist doing the work

With one-piece implants in particular, a planning error cannot be corrected afterwards. Where the product comes from matters less than who drew up that plan.

A label and a record are not the same thing

The country name on the box is manufacturing information. What is useful to you is having the brand and dimensions of the part that goes into your mouth on record.

Keeping your system information

This information will be of little use to you in the first year; in the tenth year, it may be the only thing that is.

Ask for the record when treatment ends
The brand, diameter and length of each implant used, and where it was placed. This information is part of your health record.
Keep your X-rays
The X-ray taken straight after treatment becomes a point of comparison if a problem arises later. It is the only document that shows where your bone level was on that day.
Keep a digital copy
Keep a copy on your phone or in your email. It needs to be within reach when you move to another city or in an emergency.
Update it at check-ups
Every repair carried out and every part replaced should be added to the record. Built up over the years, this information makes every later procedure easier.

Message us right away if

You do not have your implant record. Call the clinic that did the treatment and ask for it; this information is part of your health record. If the clinic has closed, it is sometimes possible to identify the system from a new X-ray.
A screw comes loose or breaks. If nobody knows which system was used, getting the part takes longer. Having the record to hand directly shortens the time it takes to fix the problem.
You are moving to another dentist. Give them your system information and your old X-rays. A dentist who does not know where your bone level started will be slow to notice progressive bone loss.
You live outside Turkey. The clinic you turn to in an emergency will not know your history. The implant record you carry with you determines the quality of the decision made in that moment.

How much origin affects the price

In the total for a full-mouth plan, the price difference between systems is usually not the deciding item. The costs break down as follows:

Price per implant: Systems do differ, but in the total, the teeth fitted on top and the clinical work often take up a larger share.
Spare parts and repairs: With a widely used system, replacing a loose screw is a small job. A part that cannot be found turns the same job into remaking the teeth fitted on top.
Continuity of the system: A system that is still in production keeps the treatment repairable ten years on. It does not appear on the bill, but it is the most valuable item.
Planning and clinical work: The main source of the difference between two treatments carried out with the same implant. It appears on the bill as clinical work, and this is the one place you should not cut back.

Frequently asked questions

Which country are Ihde implants from?

The implant system known by this name belongs to a manufacturer based in Switzerland. Prof. Dr. Stefan Ihde, after whom the approach is named, is a dentist of German origin who carried out most of his work in Switzerland.

Does being Swiss made mean it is better?

Not on its own. The same country can have both very good and mediocre manufacturers. What really matters is certification in line with regulations, how long the system has been on the market and whether its parts can still be obtained years later.

How do I find out whether the implant used is registered in Turkey?

Ask the clinic directly: which system do you use, and does it appear in the medical device registers? This is information that can be shown to you, and asking for it is a normal request. If they avoid answering, you already have the information you were looking for.

Are Turkish-made implants bad?

No. Origin is not a measure of quality; the measures are certification, continuity and clinical data. Systems made in Turkey that have been in use for a long time can also meet these criteria. The decision should be based on these three areas, not on the country.

I do not know the brand of the old implant in my mouth. Will that be a problem?

It can make things difficult when treatment is needed. In most cases the system can be identified from an X-ray, but that takes time. The quickest route is to call the clinic that did the treatment and ask for your record.

Which system do you use?

At your consultation, we set out in writing which system we use and why we consider it suitable for your mouth. When treatment is complete, the brand, diameter, length and position of your implants are given to you as a record; you do not need to ask for it separately.

Can you have implants from different countries in the same mouth?

Yes, and sometimes it is unavoidable. The drawback is that maintenance becomes more complicated: each system has its own parts and tools. Where possible, having new implants from the same system as the existing ones makes any future work simpler.

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