Leaders in dental implants

Few understand the importance of a glorious smile like Southern Implants. For over two decades, Southern Implants has been a pioneer in the field of restorative dental implants, including the design, development, manufacture and distribution of these implantable medical devices. At the helm of the company is founder and Managing Director, Graham Blackbeard, who has steered Southern Implants to becoming a premiere, international brand.
Despite the company getting to a certain size, Blackbeard is as involved in the daily operations of his company as he was at the beginning. On any given day, he is interacting with key customers and distributors, reviewing designs with engineers, discussing manufacturing and processing with company personnel. “I have a very hands-on approach and am involved in detail in all aspects of the company,” he says. This is no exaggeration.  Amongst other things, Blackbeard reads all the key journals so that he has as good a knowledge of the literature as any academic, designs clinical trials and negotiate contracts with the Universities, attends conferences, proofs all the catalogues and marketing material and somewhere finds the time to lecture at universities.

Southern Implants has branched out to gain a client base in most European countries, in the U.S. and Australasia, where the products are sold mostly through distributors. In other countries, the company sells direct. “We are involved with our distributors and do training of their staff in South Africa. We visit key customers, with our distributors, on an ongoing basis. The customers are dentists, surgeons and clinics or hospitals,” says Blackbeard. The implants are made for the top-end, specialist sector of these markets, and the research and development department is continually abuzz with keeping the product range expanding and innovative.  Southern Implants specializes in Co-Axis implants, Tri-Nex implants, MAX implants, IT implants and External Hex implants.

Blackbeard believes having his headquarters in South Africa puts his company in the perfect position to stay at the forefront on implant technology. “There are some of the best dental specialists in the world in South Africa,” says Blackbeard. That fact has led the company to be able to take advantage of world class research and a close proximity to their clients. “They are also innovators, and together with them we have developed four incredible products that are all world leading,” he continues. “There is a huge difference between a ‘real-value innovative product’ and a gimmick. We subject our innovative products to extensive clinical trials at leading Universities throughout the world, to prove their ‘real-value’. Most of our competitors have no differentiating products. Some have one. We have four that simplify and improve effectiveness of treatment, without doubt.”

Dental care for all

The country also presents its unique challenges. Blackbeard has made it imperative that Southern Implants be available to as many end users, despite their socio-economic situation. “In SA, there is virtually no third party funding of dental implant treatment. There is, therefore, immense pressure on cost efficient solutions,” says Blackbeard. Without resorting to cheaper products, Southern Implants have created many new treatment protocols—which results in huge cost savings for the patient. That speaks to the impact of what Southern Implants has achieved.

Making a difference

The work is both professionally and personally rewarding for Blackbeard and his team. When asked about what motivates him every day to drive his team, Blackbeard responded, “We have been the catalyst that has led to hundreds of thousands of patients being treated in Africa with dental implants. We are involved with all the University Dental School training programs, giving dentists the knowledge and skills to treat patients appropriately. We are also world leaders in maxilla-facial reconstruction. With our implants, prosthetic ears, eyes, noses and face segments are attached to restore aesthetics and function to the unfortunate people who have suffered facial cancer and head injuries.”
Most dental implant companies are directly or indirectly owned by banks or venture funds, with the express purpose of making short term profits. Southern Implants sees beyond just a financial gain and sees an opportunity to bring smiles to peoples’ faces. “Our main goal, short and long term, is to be the most respected implant company in the world,” Blackbeard smiles.  With perpetual innovation and a commitment to patient care, Southern Implants are well on their way.

www.southernimplants.com

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