What Are Subperiosteal Implants & How Do They Work?

Whether you want to fix a damaged tooth or fill multiple gaps in your smile, dental implants are a great way to restore your once healthy, confident grin. Enquire now.

What are subperiosteal implants? This special type of implant is a permanent tooth replacement for patients with severe bone loss in the jaw. Due to advancements in implant technology and modern bone graft treatments, subperiosteal implants are not commonly used.

Who are candidates for subperiosteal implants?

If you do not have enough bone material in the jawbone for traditional dental implants, then you may be a good candidate for subperiosteal implants. To be eligible for treatment, dentists typically ask that the following criteria is met:

• There is no active gum disease present (hygienist appointments available)
• Your gums are not receding (gum grafts available)
• You are over the age of 21 (exceptions made in special circumstances)
• You have more damaged or missing teeth than saveable teeth

How do subperiosteal implants work?

A titanium framework is positioned on top of the jawbone, just beneath the gum line. It is held in place with small metal posts that penetrate into the gum tissue, which then act as anchors for the fake teeth that are placed on top.

How much does a subperiosteal implant cost?

Whilst it is a treatment option, getting a single subperiosteal implant is quite rare. Typically, the procedure is used to replace multiple teeth. You could be therefore looking at an estimated price of £10,000 upwards for a single arch, going up to £40,000+ for full mouth restorations.

Any kind of dental implant is extremely hard to claim on the NHS. If you have been in an accident, cannot wear dentures or suffer with medical conditions such as mouth cancer, you may be eligible. Everyone else will need to seek treatment at a private clinic instead.

If you need any of the following to make your procedure a success, it will add to not only your overall spending, but also your treatment timeline. Ask your dentist about your finance options if you wish to spread the price of your subperiosteal implants over time.

How long do subperiosteal dental implants last?

There is relatively limited data surrounding the lifespan of this treatment but, based on the known durability of titanium frameworks, subperiosteal implants are estimated to have a lifespan of 10 – 20+ years. This will change based on the skill of the dentist and how the patient maintains their new smile.

What are the benefits of subperiosteal implants?

There are a number of reasons as to why subperiosteal implants are a great choice for your smile. Other than allowing patients with severe bone loss to have implants, the benefits of this procedure include:

• An improved quality of life. Smile, speak and eat without discomfort or embarrassment
• It is a less invasive procedure compared to traditional dental implants
• With your choice of sedation or local anaesthetic, fitting subperiosteal implants is a pain-free process
• The versatile treatment may be used in the upper or lower jaw

What are the disadvantages of subperiosteal implants?

In honour of full transparency, here are the potential downsides of subperiosteal implants. Rest assured, your dentist will discuss this with you during your initial consultation.

• A high-cost dental treatment
• Rarely available at NHS clinics or private clinics
• Reported complications of implant movement and framework exposure
• Requires careful maintenance to avoid infection, gum disease and/or implant failure

Are subperiosteal implants still used today?

Rarely. As mentioned earlier, bone grafts and modern implant placement techniques have dramatically improved. Your dentist will typically recommend one of the following as an alternative: endosteal implants, zygomatic implants and pterygoid implants, all of which have more clinical research to back up their safety and effectiveness.

Conclusion:

Yorkshire Dental Suite’s expert implantologists make a lot out of a little. If you have bone loss, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are illegible for dental implants – contact us today to see how we can help you achieve the smile you have always wanted.