Pterygoid Implant

Many a times there is not enough bone in the maxillary bone to anchor titanium implants, therefore in an attempt to overcome problems, pterygoid implants were introduced. The terms "pterygoid implants", "pterygomaxillary implants" and "tuberosity implants" are used interchangeably. The use of available corticalized areas of the facial skeleton, especially facial buttresses (trajectories of forces) distributing forces along the solid bone structures and protecting the craniofacial cavities. Moreover, the idea of engagement of these peculiar anatomical areas has required a special design of implants (so-called tuberopterygoid screws). The evolution of osseointegrated implant concepts, as they apply to rehabilitation of maxillary defects, has been significantly enhanced with the use of implant support gained from osseous sites in remote locations like pterygoid region. Hence, this literature will throw light on how in comparison with bone grafting procedures, this technique is less invasive, less complicated, has lower risk of morbidity and higher success rate.