What Are Basal Implants?
Basal implants are a less commonly discussed type of dental implant.
Basal implants (also called cortical implants or bicortical implants) are a type of dental implant designed to anchor into the basal bone β the dense, cortical layer of the jawbone β rather than the softer alveolar bone where regular implants are placed.
- How they are different:
- Regular implants rely on the alveolar bone (the ridge that holds tooth sockets)
- Basal implants are placed into the dense, deeper layers of bone
- They have a smooth surface (rather than the rough surface of regular implants)
- They are designed to be immediately load-bearing (you can put teeth on them right away)
- Key features:
- Can be placed even when there is significant bone loss
- Single-piece design (the abutment and implant post are one piece)
- Immediate loading is often possible
- No bone grafting required in many cases
- The smooth surface is designed to resist bacterial infection
Who Might Benefit
- Basal implants are typically used for:
- Patients with severe bone loss who cannot have regular implants
- Patients who want immediate teeth (same day)
- Patients who have experienced peri-implantitis (infection around regular implants)
- Patients who want to avoid bone grafting