What Is the Success Rate of Pterygoid Implants?

What Is the Success Rate of Pterygoid Implants?

Pterygoid implants are less common than regular implants, so you may wonder how well they perform. Here are the numbers.

Pterygoid implants have a good success rate when placed by experienced surgeons, though research is less extensive than for regular implants.

• Published success rates:
• 5-year success rate: 90–95%
• 10-year success rate: 85–90%
• Immediate loading (same-day teeth): 88–93%

Factors That Affect Success

• Positive factors:
• Experienced surgeon (the learning curve for pterygoid implants is significant)
• Good pterygoid bone quality on CT scan
• Non-smoker
• Good oral hygiene
• Proper case selection

• Negative factors:
• Inexperienced surgeon (higher risk of misplacement)
• Poor bone quality in the pterygoid area
• Smoking
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Poor mouth opening (limited access complicates placement)

How It Compares

• Regular implants: 95–98% at 10 years
• Zygomatic implants: 90–95% at 10 years
• Pterygoid implants: 85–90% at 10 years

Pterygoid implants have a slightly lower success rate than regular implants, but for patients with posterior maxillary bone loss, they offer a way to avoid sinus lift surgery while still achieving a fixed full arch restoration.

Clinical Guidance