Both are tapered bone-level implants from Straumann, and the difference that matters most is not the shape but the connection: BLX uses TorcFit and BLT uses CrossFit, so their components do not interchange. BLX is fully tapered with a variable thread pitch, while BLT is cylindrical at the crest with an apically tapered, self-cutting lower body.
Side by side
Rows appear only where at least one side has data. Where a value is not verified we say
so rather than leaving it blank.
Attribute
Straumann BLX
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
Current status
Current. Straumann publishes a BLX Basic Information document revised November 2024.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Current. Straumann publishes a Bone Level Tapered Basic Information document revised January 2025.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Implant level
Bone level. Straumann states that "the Straumann BLX Implant System offers Bone Level implants (BLX)".Manufacturer-reported[1]
Bone level. Straumann states the rough surface extends to the top of the implant and the connection is shifted inwards.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Body geometry
Fully tapered body with a machined neck whose height varies with implant length: 1.0 mm on 6 mm and 8 mm implants, 1.7 mm on 10–14 mm implants and 2.0 mm on 16–18 mm implants.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Cylindrical coronal portion with an apically tapered, self-cutting body. The tapered section measures 3.9 mm at 11° on the ∅ 2.9 mm implant, 5.3 mm at 9° on ∅ 3.3 and ∅ 4.1 mm, and 5.8 mm at 9° on ∅ 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
TorcFit — a 7° conical prosthetic connection with a six-position torx-style anti-rotation feature. All BLX implants share the same internal geometry regardless of diameter, so one set of RB/WB prosthetic components fits the whole range.Manufacturer-reported[1]TorcFit is specific to BLX and TLX; it is not the CrossFit connection used by the Straumann Bone Level and Bone Level Tapered lines.
CrossFit — a 15° conical-cylindrical connection with four internal grooves. Small CrossFit (SC, ∅ 2.3 mm) on ∅ 2.9 mm implants, Narrow CrossFit (NC, ∅ 2.8 mm) on ∅ 3.3 mm, and Regular CrossFit (RC, ∅ 3.3 mm) on ∅ 4.1 and ∅ 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3][4]
Platform switching
Manufacturer documentation not located(The Basic Information gives a platform diameter of ∅ 2.9 mm against neck diameters of ∅ 3.4, 3.5 or 4.5 mm, but describes the prosthetic range as Regular Base and Wide Base rather than making a platform-switching claim.)
The prosthetic platform is narrower than the endosteal diameter throughout the range — ∅ 2.8 mm platform on a ∅ 2.9 mm implant, ∅ 3.1 on ∅ 3.3, ∅ 3.7 on ∅ 4.1 and ∅ 4.4 on ∅ 4.8 — and the connection is shifted inwards.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Available diameters
Maximum outer diameter ∅ 3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.5 mm.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Endosteal diameter ∅ 2.9, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Available lengths
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 mm. 6 mm is not offered in ∅ 3.5 mm, and 18 mm is not offered in ∅ 5.5 mm or ∅ 6.5 mm.Manufacturer-reported[1]
10–14 mm for the ∅ 2.9 mm implant; 8–18 mm for ∅ 3.3, 4.1 and 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Narrow implant option
Straumann advises particular care when placing ∅ 3.5 mm Roxolid implants in the molar region or other high-load situations, because of the risk of implant overload.Manufacturer-reported[1]
The ∅ 2.9 mm SC implant is described as a small-diameter implant for central and lateral incisors in the mandible and lateral incisors in the maxilla, with a minimal ridge width of 5.0 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Geographic availability
Straumann states that not all products are available in all markets.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Not publicly verified
Current status
Straumann BLX
Current. Straumann publishes a BLX Basic Information document revised November 2024.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
Current. Straumann publishes a Bone Level Tapered Basic Information document revised January 2025.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Implant level
Straumann BLX
Bone level. Straumann states that "the Straumann BLX Implant System offers Bone Level implants (BLX)".Manufacturer-reported[1]
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
Bone level. Straumann states the rough surface extends to the top of the implant and the connection is shifted inwards.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Body geometry
Straumann BLX
Fully tapered body with a machined neck whose height varies with implant length: 1.0 mm on 6 mm and 8 mm implants, 1.7 mm on 10–14 mm implants and 2.0 mm on 16–18 mm implants.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
Cylindrical coronal portion with an apically tapered, self-cutting body. The tapered section measures 3.9 mm at 11° on the ∅ 2.9 mm implant, 5.3 mm at 9° on ∅ 3.3 and ∅ 4.1 mm, and 5.8 mm at 9° on ∅ 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
TorcFit — a 7° conical prosthetic connection with a six-position torx-style anti-rotation feature. All BLX implants share the same internal geometry regardless of diameter, so one set of RB/WB prosthetic components fits the whole range.Manufacturer-reported[1]TorcFit is specific to BLX and TLX; it is not the CrossFit connection used by the Straumann Bone Level and Bone Level Tapered lines.
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
CrossFit — a 15° conical-cylindrical connection with four internal grooves. Small CrossFit (SC, ∅ 2.3 mm) on ∅ 2.9 mm implants, Narrow CrossFit (NC, ∅ 2.8 mm) on ∅ 3.3 mm, and Regular CrossFit (RC, ∅ 3.3 mm) on ∅ 4.1 and ∅ 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3][4]
Platform switching
Straumann BLX
Manufacturer documentation not located(The Basic Information gives a platform diameter of ∅ 2.9 mm against neck diameters of ∅ 3.4, 3.5 or 4.5 mm, but describes the prosthetic range as Regular Base and Wide Base rather than making a platform-switching claim.)
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
The prosthetic platform is narrower than the endosteal diameter throughout the range — ∅ 2.8 mm platform on a ∅ 2.9 mm implant, ∅ 3.1 on ∅ 3.3, ∅ 3.7 on ∅ 4.1 and ∅ 4.4 on ∅ 4.8 — and the connection is shifted inwards.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Available diameters
Straumann BLX
Maximum outer diameter ∅ 3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.5 mm.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
Endosteal diameter ∅ 2.9, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Available lengths
Straumann BLX
6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 mm. 6 mm is not offered in ∅ 3.5 mm, and 18 mm is not offered in ∅ 5.5 mm or ∅ 6.5 mm.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
10–14 mm for the ∅ 2.9 mm implant; 8–18 mm for ∅ 3.3, 4.1 and 4.8 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Narrow implant option
Straumann BLX
Straumann advises particular care when placing ∅ 3.5 mm Roxolid implants in the molar region or other high-load situations, because of the risk of implant overload.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
The ∅ 2.9 mm SC implant is described as a small-diameter implant for central and lateral incisors in the mandible and lateral incisors in the maxilla, with a minimal ridge width of 5.0 mm.Manufacturer-reported[3]
Geographic availability
Straumann BLX
Straumann states that not all products are available in all markets.Manufacturer-reported[1]
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
Not publicly verified
The biggest differences
BLX is tapered along its whole length; BLT is cylindrical coronally and tapers only apically, over a defined section — 5.3 mm at 9 degrees on the 3.3 and 4.1 mm implants, for example. BLX's thread pitch changes with diameter and length, from 1.7 mm to 3.1 mm, whereas BLT uses a constant 0.8 mm pitch across the range. The consequence is that BLX is designed to be driven with progressively more grip as it seats, while BLT behaves consistently along its length.
Design
The size ranges differ in a way that reflects their intended use. BLX is offered from 3.5 to 6.5 mm and from 6 to 18 mm long, giving both wider and shorter options. BLT runs 2.9, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.8 mm, with the 2.9 mm implant a distinct product carrying the smaller Small CrossFit connection and restricted by Straumann to specific narrow incisor sites with a minimum ridge width of 5.0 mm. If a very narrow site is in question, BLT reaches lower than BLX.
Material and surface
Both are offered in Roxolid, Straumann's titanium-zirconium alloy, with either the SLActive or the SLA surface. BLT is additionally offered in commercially pure titanium with SLA, except at 2.9 mm where only Roxolid is available. So a patient told they are receiving 'a Roxolid implant' has learned the material but not the system, and the two carry different components.
Prosthetic ecosystem
This is the point that decides most real cases. BLT uses CrossFit, a 15 degree conical-cylindrical connection with four internal grooves, and shares the whole Bone Level prosthetic portfolio with the parallel-walled Bone Level implant. BLX uses TorcFit, a 7 degree cone with a six-position torx feature, and shares its components with TLX instead. A laboratory told only that a patient has 'a Straumann bone-level implant' cannot order parts; the system name is the minimum useful record.
What may influence clinical selection
Straumann positions BLT's self-cutting apical taper for soft or very soft bone and fresh extraction sockets, and positions BLX for high primary stability and immediate treatment procedures — descriptions that overlap considerably. Where they separate is at the extremes of the range: BLX for wide posterior sites up to 6.5 mm, BLT for the 2.9 mm narrow incisor situation. In the middle of the range, the deciding factor is more often which prosthetic ecosystem the practice already works in.
Important limitations
We have recorded platform switching for BLT, where Straumann describes the platform as narrower than the endosteal diameter throughout the range, but we have left it unknown for BLX because we could not find a Straumann statement of it. The absence of a row is not evidence that the feature is absent.
So which is better?
Neither is universally better, and any page telling you otherwise is selling something.
These are different designs with different trade-offs, and the right choice depends on the
bone available, the position in the mouth, the planned restoration, and what the treating
clinician is equipped and experienced to place and to service years from now.
That last point is easy to overlook and matters more than most specification
differences: components need to remain obtainable for as long as the implant is in place.
Regulatory record
US FDA 510(k) clearances held by each side, retrieved from the FDA's own database.
Clearances are held at brand level, so every system from the same brand shares this record.
Straumann BLX
via Straumann
30
FDA 510(k) clearances
2004 – 2026
Filed by Institut Straumann AG
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
via Straumann
30
FDA 510(k) clearances
2004 – 2026
Filed by Institut Straumann AG
A clearance count is not a quality ranking, and the
larger number is not the better implant. A brand with more clearances usually
has a longer history or a broader component range. FDA "clearance" also is not FDA
"approval" — it means the device was accepted as substantially equivalent to one already
on the market, generally without a clinical trial. A blank here means we could not match
a filing with confidence, not that the brand lacks authorisation.
What these actually mean →
Sources
Numbers match the citations beside each claim above.
