3-Phase Implant Concept in Dortmund: All Under One Roof
Why Implant Treatment Works Differently Today
Dental implants are among the most thoroughly documented procedures in modern dentistry. According to the German Society for Implantology (DGI), approximately 1.3 million implants are placed in Germany every year (Source: DGI, White Paper on Implantology, 2024). The trend is upward, the procedures are becoming more precise, and the long-term outcomes are convincing: ten-year survival rates of 95 to 97 percent are well established in the literature (Source: 11th European Consensus Workshop, EFP/EREN, 2024).
What has changed less, however, is the patient experience. In many cases, the process looks like this: the general dentist identifies the need, refers to an oral surgeon or clinic, the implant is placed there, and for the prosthetic restoration — the crown, bridge, or denture on the implant — the patient returns to the general dentist or visits yet another specialist. Three locations, three appointment calendars, three separate communication channels.
At Pul's Zahnmedizin in the WiloHealthCube at Wilopark 15 in Dortmund, we have fundamentally rethought this process. Our 3-phase concept unites digital planning, surgical implantation, and prosthetic restoration at a single location — no external referrals, no information loss, no unnecessary travel.
The 3-Phase Concept in Detail
Phase 1: Digital Diagnostics and Implant Planning
Every implant case begins with precise analysis. Dr. Pul first creates a three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography scan (CBCT), which displays the jawbone, nerve pathways, maxillary sinus, and adjacent tooth structures in high resolution. This is complemented by a digital intraoral scan that captures tooth surfaces and soft tissue with sub-millimeter accuracy.
Based on this data, computer-guided implant planning takes place. In specialized planning software, the implant is virtually positioned in the jaw — taking into account the available bone volume, the distance to anatomical structures, and the planned prosthetic restoration.
The critical point: planning is done in reverse, starting from the finished crown. This means the implant position is not only surgically sound but also prosthetically optimal — ensuring a crown that sits exactly where it belongs, both functionally and aesthetically.
The result of this planning process is a Guided Surgery drilling template: an individually fabricated guide that is placed on the jaw during surgery and dictates the exact position, angle, and depth of the implant drilling. The surgeon does not work freehand but is guided by the template with millimeter precision.
Phase 2: Surgical Implant Placement by the Oral Surgery Specialist
The actual implant placement is performed by a specialist in oral surgery (Fachzahnarzt fuer Oralchirurgie) who regularly practices at our location at Wilopark 15. This is a significant difference from many practices: the patient stays in their familiar treatment environment, with a team that knows their case.
The oral surgeon places the implant using the Guided Surgery template created in Phase 1. Navigated surgery has several documented advantages over freehand implant placement:
- Reduced deviation: Studies show that navigated implantation reduces deviation at the implant apex to an average of 1.2 millimeters, compared to significantly higher values with the freehand method (Source: International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Meta-analysis of computer-guided implantology, 2023).
- Minimally invasive approach: The precise guidance frequently allows the procedure to be performed without large incisions, reducing swelling and accelerating healing.
- Protection of anatomical structures: Nerve canals and the maxillary sinus are accounted for in the CBCT planning and protected during surgery by the template.
Dr. Pul is present during the implantation and communicates directly with the oral surgeon. Findings, planning details, and prosthetic requirements are not communicated via referral letters but discussed as a team — before, during, and after the procedure.
Phase 3: Prosthetic Restoration by Dr. Pul
After the implant healing period — typically three to six months, depending on bone quality and location — the prosthetic restoration begins. Dr. Pul creates the final crown, bridge, or implant-supported denture.
This is where our fully digital workflow comes into play: the intraoral scan captures the exact position of the healed implant, the restoration is designed digitally, and in many cases fabricated directly in the practice.
The advantage of uniting planning and prosthetics is measurable: because Dr. Pul planned the implant in Phase 1 with prosthetic considerations in mind, the position, angulation, and emergence profile of the implant align precisely with the planned restoration. There are no compromises that arise when surgeon and prosthodontist have differing ideas.
Why Everything Under One Roof Makes a Difference
The 3-phase concept is not a marketing term. It solves a concrete problem that patients and clinicians have dealt with for years:
Information loss: When a patient is referred from Practice A to Practice B, information is lost — despite referral letters, despite X-rays on disc. The nuances of the clinical situation, the patient's verbal explanations, the subtleties of bone structure on the CBCT. With us, all data remains in one system, and everyone involved has access to the same findings.
Appointment coordination: Three practitioners at three locations mean three calendars that need synchronizing. Waiting times of weeks or months between phases are common. With us, the entire treatment takes place at Wilopark 15, coordinated by one team.
Accountability: When multiple practitioners at different locations are involved, questions of responsibility in case of complications can become complex. With us, coordination is in one hand — from the first diagnostic image to the final follow-up appointment.
Our Location: WiloHealthCube in Dortmund
Pul's Zahnmedizin is located in the WiloHealthCube at Wilopark 15 in Dortmund, in the Phoenix-West quarter. The WiloHealthCube is a modern health center that enables short distances between various medical specialties.
For patients from Dortmund and across the Ruhr area, this means: specialized implant care without referral detours, with digital planning, specialist oral surgery, and prosthetic expertise at a single location.
Learn more about our full range of services on our dental implants page and the oral surgery page. An overview of the specialist center is also available on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Guided Surgery and how does it differ from conventional implant placement?
Guided Surgery means the implant is not placed freehand but with the help of an individually fabricated drilling template. This template is planned on a computer based on a CBCT scan and a digital impression, and it prescribes the exact position, angle, and depth of the drilling for the surgeon. Compared to the freehand method, deviation at the implant apex is significantly reduced, which provides a measurable safety advantage, particularly in anatomically challenging regions — such as near the inferior alveolar nerve.
Why does an oral surgeon place the implant rather than Dr. Pul?
Implant placement is a surgical procedure that falls within the specialty of oral surgery. A specialist in oral surgery (Fachzahnarzt fuer Oralchirurgie) has completed several years of additional training in surgical techniques. Dr. Pul specializes in digital planning and prosthetic restoration — the phases that determine the long-term success and aesthetics of the result. This division of labor by competence is a quality feature, not a limitation.
How long does the entire treatment take from CBCT to finished crown?
This depends on the individual situation. The planning phase typically takes one to two weeks. After implant placement, a healing period of three to six months follows. The prosthetic restoration can then often be completed in one to two appointments. Overall, a timeframe of four to eight months should be expected. If needed, an aesthetically pleasing provisional restoration can be worn during the healing phase.
Is navigated implant placement more painful than conventional surgery?
No, quite the opposite. Because the Guided Surgery template precisely guides the procedure, minimally invasive techniques are frequently possible — without large incisions and with less tissue trauma. Patients typically report less swelling and faster recovery compared to conventional approaches. The procedure itself is performed under local anesthesia and is not painful.
Does statutory health insurance cover dental implant costs?
Statutory health insurers in Germany pay a diagnosis-based fixed subsidy for dental prosthetics, regardless of whether an implant or another type of restoration is chosen. The implant itself and the surgical service are private services. The fixed subsidy typically covers a portion of the total costs. We prepare a detailed treatment and cost plan before starting treatment, which you can submit to your health insurer for approval.