Evaluation of Clinical Success of the 3D-Printed Custom-Made Subperiosteal Implants

The authors aim to share their experiences in subperiosteal implant applications in atrophic jaws, which have been practiced in their clinic for about 2 years, and evaluate the complications and clinical success of the implants.

Clinical and radiologic data of 32 patients who underwent subperiosteal implantation for advanced alveolar bone loss were evaluated, but 1 patient was excluded as they smoked. Of the 31 patients included in the study, 27 were operated with the diagnosis of total tooth loss, 3 for maxillectomy and 1 for partial tooth loss. A total of 60 subperiosteal implants were placed in them. The mean follow-up period was 15 months.

During the operation, implant-bone adaptation problems were encountered in 11 patients, implant skeletal fracture in 1 patient, and loss of primary stabilization during mini-screw fixation in 2. Although there were no complications in the early postoperative period, biological and prosthetic complications occurred in the late postoperative period. Soft tissue retraction at various levels in 12 patients (only keratinized tissue retraction in 6 and mucosal retraction exceeding keratinized tissue in 6), soft tissue infection in 5 and oroantral fistula development in 1, mini-screw loosening in 3 were the biological complications that occurred.

Various complications may occur during or after the application of custom-made subperiosteal implants. However, these are manageable and can be reapplied in case of a possible implant loss, making it an important alternative, especially in atrophic jaws where endosseous dental implants cannot be applied.