The posterior upper jaw is one of the most challenging areas for conventional implant placement. After molar loss, alveolar bone resorbs rapidly, and the maxillary sinuses tend to expand downward (pneumatization), reducing available bone height. Sinus lifting — sinus floor elevation and bone augmentation — is the traditional solution, but it involves additional surgery, 6 to 9 months of healing time, and added cost.
The pterygoid implant bypasses the sinus entirely, following an oblique trajectory through the maxillary tuberosity to reach the pterygoid process — a dense bone column formed by the convergence of three cortical structures (posterior wall of the maxillary tuberosity, horizontal process of the palatine bone, pterygoid process of the sphenoid). This tricortical anchorage provides high primary stability, even when anterior bone quality is modest.
Available data position the pterygoid implant as a reliable, documented option for atrophic posterior regions, provided rigorous planning and precise surgical technique.
Within the graftless spectrum: The pterygoid implant completes the options available for patients wishing to avoid grafting. It is particularly valuable in full-arch protocols combining conventional (or tilted) anterior implants and posterior pterygoid anchors, eliminating distal cantilevers — a potential source of long-term prosthetic complications.
Procedures we offer
Isolated pterygoid implant (posterior anchor)
Single pterygoid implant for the posterior upper jaw, replacing the need for a sinus lift or posterior bone graft.
Hybrid Solution (Pterygoid + anterior standard implants)
Conventional implants anteriorly and pterygoid implant(s) posteriorly. Eliminates distal cantilevers.
Combined with zygomatic implants (complex cases)
For severe maxillary atrophy requiring complete upper arch rehabilitation without any grafting.
Immediate loading
Frequently immediately loaded in full-arch protocols.