subcrestal placement
Positioning of a dental implant fixture so that its coronal margin sits below the level of the alveolar bone crest, rather than at or above it.
Full Definition
Subcrestal placement refers to the intentional positioning of a dental implant at a depth where its platform lies 1–3 mm apical to the surrounding crestal bone. This technique is frequently employed with bone-level implants to preserve crestal bone height and accommodate platform-switching geometries. Editors should note the distinction from tissue-level placement, where the implant shoulder aligns at the mucosal margin. Subcrestal placement is documented in surgical reports and implant-placement records with explicit millimetre measurements. Misspellings such as 'subcrestal' rendered as two words or hyphenated incorrectly are common editorial errors.
Usage
Usage note: Always one word, no hyphen. Distinguish carefully from 'subperiosteal', which refers to a different implant type entirely.
In Context
- "The surgeon documented subcrestal placement at 1.5 mm below the alveolar crest for all six implants." — Operative Report
- "Subcrestal placement was selected to facilitate platform switching and minimize marginal bone resorption." — Clinical Case Study