PolarisDX editorial team
Around 30 percent of adults in Germany are inadequately supplied with vitamin D - corresponding to a 25-OH vitamin D level below 30 nmol/l (12 ng/ml). The situation worsens considerably in the winter months: around 60 percent do not achieve sufficient serum values (source: Robert Koch Institute, DEGS1). For those Vitamin D diagnostics in implantology this has direct consequences.
Vitamin D regulates calcium-phosphate metabolism and thus bone mineralization - exactly the process on which successful osseointegration depends. Studies show that a Vitamin D deficiency in dental implants is associated with a significantly increased risk of early losses. Patients with serum levels below 20 ng/ml are up to four times more likely to lose implants than patients with sufficient levels (Mangano et al., J Craniofac Surg 2018). Vitamin D also plays a role in periodontology: It modulates the immune response in the periodontium and influences attachment loss.
Despite this evidence, vitamin D testing is not a standard part of the pre-implantation protocol in most dental practices. This is less due to a lack of will than to practical hurdles: conventional laboratory diagnostics take two to five working days, interrupt the planning workflow and require an additional patient appointment. Since August 2025, however, a new guideline has fundamentally changed this initial situation.
The S3 guideline “Vitamin D and dental implantology” – What it means for your practice
The first was in August 2025 under the leadership of the German Society for Implantology (DGI) and the German Society for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine (DGZMK). S3 guidelines on vitamin D in implantology published (AWMF registration number 083-055, version 1.0). Nine other specialist societies were involved in the creation. An S3 guideline represents the highest level of evidence-based guideline development in Germany: It is based on a systematic literature search, structured consensus finding and provides concrete recommendations for action for clinical practice.
The core message: Differentiated approach instead of routine screening. Not every patient needs a vitamin D test before implantation. However, patients at risk clearly benefit from individualized diagnostics.
Three core recommendations
- Individualized diagnostics: Determination of 25-OH vitamin D status before implantation in patients with defined risk factors - osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, malabsorption syndromes, bisphosphonate therapy, dark skin type with low sun exposure and geriatric patients.
- In-office rapid tests as an equivalent option: The guideline classifies quantitative point-of-care tests with proven analytical quality as equivalent to conventional laboratory diagnostics - provided that the test system meets recognized quality criteria such as the DEQAS classification.
- Monitoring during supplementation: When initiating supplementation after a deficiency is found, the guidelines recommend checking serum levels every three to six months. Target value: at least 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/l), ideally 40–60 ng/ml before planned implant placement.
Source: AWMF guideline 083-055, version 1.0 (Aug. 2025). Consensus recommendations from the DGI/DGZMK.
The question is no longer whether vitamin D diagnostics makes sense in implantology - the guideline answers this clearly. The question is how this diagnostic can be efficiently integrated into everyday practice.
Why POC instead of laboratory? The time advantage at the treatment chair
The conventional route for vitamin D determination involves venous blood sampling, shipping to an external laboratory and a waiting period of two to five working days. In everyday practice this means: a separate appointment for the blood sample, waiting for the results, then bringing the patient back in for a treatment decision. The Vitamin D test in the dentist's office Often it fails not because of a lack of clinical will, but because of logistics.
A point-of-care test (POC) fundamentally changes this workflow. The Rapid vitamin D test at the dentist delivers a quantitative result in under three minutes - directly at the treatment chair, from a drop of capillary blood. Instead of laboratory shipping, waiting times and follow-up appointments, the result is already available during the planning meeting.
| criterion | Laboratory test | POC rapid test (Igloo Reader Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Time to result | 2-5 business days | <3 minutes |
| Sample shipping | Yes (blood collection → courier) | No (Chairside) |
| Therapy decision | Delayed (follow-up date) | Immediately at the treatment chair |
| Delegation | Blood collection by doctor/MFA | Delegable to ZFA/DH |
| Accuracy (bias) | ±5–10% (laboratory dependent) | ±3–8% (DEQAS Class A) |
| Patient compliance | Laboratory visit required | No additional appointment |
Another advantage for the practice organization: The entire test procedure can be delegated to dental assistants or dental hygienists. The ZFA takes the sample and starts the measurement while you treat the next patient. No workflow interruptions, no logistics overhead, no loss of information between the laboratory and practice.
Igloo Reader Pro – The POC diagnostic system for dental practices
Technology & Specifications
The Igloo Reader Pro is a compact one POC diagnostic device for dental practices, developed specifically for use in medical practices and decentralized treatment environments. At just 87.5 × 87.5 × 91 mm and 290 grams, it fits on any treatment table.
5 measurement technologies
Colorimetry, immunofluorescence, microfluids, quantum dots, dry chemistry
140+ calibrated tests
From over 30 manufacturers, compatible with approximately 90% of all lateral flow tests
24 hour battery life
Can be used mobile for home visits or branch practices
CE & IVDR compliant
WiFi, Bluetooth, USB-C, API integration (PVS/LIS compatible)
DEQAS-validated measurement quality
Key performance indicators
#2
Worldwide in the DEQAS ranking (Class A)
±3–8 %
Bias vs. reference method
<2%
VK inter-reader precision
Peer-reviewed: Tseneva & Perić Kačarević, Int. Journal of Dental Biomaterials Research, 2023, DOI: 10.56939/DBR23136t
In the DEQAS ring test – the international reference program for vitamin D analysis – the Igloo Reader Pro ranks second worldwide and achieves a Class A classification. This puts it directly behind LC-MS/MS, the gold standard in laboratory analysis. These values are at clinical laboratory level and meet the quality requirements that the S3 guidelines place on in-office test systems.
Vitamin D diagnostics in practice
Determine the 25-OH vitamin D level directly at the treatment chair - in under 15 minutes.
Find out more about the Igloo Pro systemEconomic efficiency: IGeL billing and ROI for your practice
Bill vitamin D determination as IGeL
Vitamin D testing in the dental practice is not a statutory health insurance service. It is billed as an individual health service (IGeL) in accordance with Section 6 Paragraph 1 GOÄ as a requested service. For you as a practice owner, this means: full reimbursement without budget caps, no risk of recourse and a gross margin of approx. 50 € per test with standard calculation. That's around €15 above the margin of comparable competing products - a difference that adds up over the course of the year.
ROI calculation: payback in 8-12 weeks
3 tests/week
Conservative assumption
600 €/month
Additional gross sales
8-12 weeks
Payback period
The real driver is not just the initial test, but the monitoring: according to the guideline recommendation, patients taking supplements come for check-ups every three to six months. This generates a recurring revenue stream from your existing patient base – without acquiring new patients. Vitamin D diagnostics in implantology is one of the few IGeL services that combines clinical benefits with sustainable economic returns.
With additional biomarkers (HbA1c, CRP, ferritin, cortisol, TSH) the POC device is developing into expandable diagnostic profit center for your practice.
Practice workflow: Vitamin D diagnostics in 5 steps
The integration of the Vitamin D determination before implantation in everyday practice is uncomplicated and can be completely delegated to ZFA or DH.
Risk assessment
When taking a medical history, identify relevant risk factors: osteoporosis, malabsorption syndromes, seasonal deficiency with low sun exposure, dark skin type, diabetes mellitus or a known history of vitamin D deficiency.
Capillary blood collection
The ZFA takes a drop of capillary blood from the fingertip - around 10 microliters are enough.
Insert test cassette
The filled test cassette is inserted into the Igloo Reader Pro. The device automatically recognizes the test type and starts the measurement.
Result in under 3 minutes
The quantitative 25-OH vitamin D value appears on the display and is simultaneously transferred to the cloud app. Discuss the result with the patient directly at the treatment chair.
Document therapy decisions
If the values are sufficient, the implantation can take place as planned. If there is a deficiency, supplementation is initiated and a check-up appointment is arranged 3-6 months before the procedure.
The entire one Rapid vitamin D test at the dentist - from the capillary blood sample to the documented result - takes less than five minutes and integrates seamlessly into the planning appointment or the initial consultation.
Polaris Vitamin D3 Spray – diagnostics and therapy from a single source
If the test shows a deficiency, the treatment path ends in many practices with an oral supplement recommendation. The patient then obtains a preparation independently - or not. With that Polaris Vitamin D3+K2 mouth spray Close this gap directly in the consultation. The spray combines high-dose vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 (MK-7), which promotes targeted calcium deposition into the bone matrix via osteocalcin activation.
As a practice dispensing product, the spray generates additional sales per patient with zero additional work steps. The combination of diagnostics and supplementation from a single source increases patient loyalty and ensures that the therapy plan is actually implemented.
Clinical validation and partner practices in implantology
The Igloo Pro system is already in use in over 100 practices in more than 15 countries. The cooperation partners include renowned implantology and research institutions:
Nobel Biocare/Envista
World market leader in implantology – cooperation for chairside diagnostic workflows
Swiss Dental Solutions & Imperial College London
Joint research on POC diagnostics in dentistry
ndu Clinic, 22 Harley Street, London
Clinical use in the segment of biological premium dentistry
100+ practices in 15+ countries
Established presence in Europe, Middle East and Asia
These partnerships show that guideline-compliant POC diagnostics have arrived in implantology practice.
Ready for guideline-compliant diagnostics in your practice?
Vitamin D diagnostics in implantology has a solid foundation: the S3 guidelines provide the framework, the Igloo Reader Pro provides the technology and the IGeL model ensures cost-effectiveness. Arrange a free consultation and find out how the system integrates into your specific practice workflow.
Free advice – without obligation – approx. 15 minutes
Frequently asked questions about vitamin D diagnostics in the dental practice
Is the rapid vitamin D test as accurate as a laboratory test?
The Igloo Reader Pro achieved class A in the DEQAS interlaboratory test and took second place worldwide with a deviation of ±3 to 8 percent compared to the reference method. These results have been peer-reviewed and published (Tseneva & Perić Kačarević, 2023). Although a POC test is methodologically not identical to central laboratory analysis, the S3 guidelines classify validated rapid tests as a clinically equivalent diagnostic option.
Who can carry out the vitamin D test in the dentist's office?
The capillary blood collection from the fingertip and the operation of the Igloo Reader Pro can be completely delegated to dental assistants (ZFA) or dental hygienists (DH). No doctor involvement is required for the test itself. The interpretation of the results and the treatment decisions derived from them are of course the responsibility of the dentist.
How is the vitamin D test billed as an IGeL?
The vitamin D determination in the dental practice is not a statutory health insurance service and is billed as an individual health service (IGeL) in accordance with Section 6 Paragraph 1 GOÄ as a requested service. The gross margin is around €50 per test. Before the test is carried out, written patient consent and information about the self-pay nature are required.
What does the S3 guideline recommend for POC testing before implantation?
The S3 guideline “Vitamin D in Implantology” (AWMF 083-055, August 2025) recommends individualized diagnostics for high-risk patients before implantation. Quantitative in-office rapid tests are classified as an equivalent option to laboratory diagnostics, provided they meet recognized quality criteria such as the DEQAS Class A classification. General screening of all patients is not recommended.
What other biomarkers can the Igloo Reader Pro measure?
In addition to 25-OH vitamin D, over 140 calibrated tests are available, including HbA1c for diabetes screening before PA therapy, CRP as an inflammatory marker, ferritin, cortisol, TSH, a lipid panel (5-in-1), testosterone and aMMP-8 as a specific periodontitis marker. The open platform with tests from over 30 manufacturers makes the Igloo Reader Pro an expandable diagnostic profit center for your practice.