Bone-Level Implant
An implant design in which the prosthetic connection is positioned at or below the alveolar bone crest, requiring separate transmucosal components for restoration.
Full Definition
A bone-level implant is placed so that its coronal margin sits flush with or slightly below the crestal bone, leaving the implant–abutment interface within the osseous environment. Separate abutments and healing components must traverse the mucosal tissue to reach the oral cavity, offering greater flexibility in restorative design and enabling platform switching. This configuration is preferred when soft-tissue architecture and esthetics are paramount, as the position of the prosthetic margin can be optimized independently of the implant's position. Editors should not conflate this term with 'subcrestal placement,' which refers specifically to intentional placement below the crestal bone rather than a design category.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate as 'bone-level implant' when used attributively; distinguish from 'subcrestal placement,' which describes vertical positioning, not implant design.
In Context
- "The clinician chose a bone-level implant to allow for platform switching and optimal esthetic management." — Clinical case report
- "Bone-level implants require a healing abutment during the soft-tissue maturation phase." — Postoperative instruction sheet