Subperiosteal Implant
Pronunciation: sub-peh-RY-oh-stee-ul
A type of dental implant consisting of a custom metal framework that rests on top of the jawbone beneath the periosteum, used when insufficient bone volume precludes endosseous implant placement.
Full Definition
Subperiosteal implants are a historically significant implant design placed between the periosteum and the alveolar bone surface rather than within the bone (as with endosseous implants). They were prevalent in the mid-20th century before modern bone augmentation techniques made endosseous implants more universally applicable. Editors are most likely to encounter this term in historical reviews, literature comparisons, or contemporary articles describing a CAD/CAM-fabricated renaissance of the technique for severely atrophic ridges. The distinction between 'subperiosteal' (on the bone) and 'endosseous' (within the bone) is a classic confusable pair in implant literature. Accurate use of the prefix 'sub-' is essential.
Usage
Usage note: Do not hyphenate 'subperiosteal'; this prefix–root combination is written as a single closed compound in dental literature.
In Context
- "The narrative review traced the decline of the subperiosteal implant following the widespread adoption of GBR in the 1980s." — Literature review
- "A CAD/CAM-fabricated subperiosteal implant was described as an alternative for the severely atrophic posterior mandible." — Case report introduction