Subperiosteal Implant
Also known as: Subperiosteal, bone surface implant
An older type of implant placed on top of the bone rather than inside it.
Subperiosteal implants are an older design in which the implant framework sits on top of the jawbone (under the gum) rather than being placed inside the bone. Posts emerge through the gum to support a prosthesis.
History
Subperiosteal implants were developed in the 1940s before modern endosseous (root-form) implants existed. They were used when insufficient bone volume prevented endosseous implant placement.
Why they are rarely used today
Subperiosteal implants have largely been abandoned in favour of modern endosseous implants combined with bone grafting. Their long-term failure rates were high, they were technically complex to manufacture (requiring a surgical impression of the bone surface), and they could cause significant bone loss over time.
Modern equivalents
The situations where subperiosteal implants were once used — severe bone atrophy — can now be addressed with bone grafting, zygomatic implants (anchored in the cheekbone), or All-on-4 type approaches. These offer far superior long-term outcomes.
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