Tubero-pterygoid implant as means of rehabilitation of patient with adentia and atrophy of distal maxillary aspect. case report

Today, despite the application and constant improvement of various techniques such as sinus floor elevation, vertical and horizontal augmentation of the alveolar ridge, the use of zygoma and extra-short implants etc, the issue of functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of distal maxillary defects with dental implants persists. Unsatisfactory quantitative and qualitative parameters of bone tissue in this anatomical site considerably complicate, and at times even make it impossible to install dental implants. Moreover, they often require additional surgical interventions aimed at increasing the volume of bone tissue, significantly extending the terms of the final prosthesis. The progressive method of rehabilitation of patients with dental loss in distal upper jaw is the use of the technique of so-called tubero-pterygoid implantation proposed by J.F. Tulasne in 1985, the main feature of which is placement of dental implants in cortical areas of the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone and the pyramidal process of the palatine bone. Given study presents a clinical case of successful rehabilitation of a patient with acquired adentia and atrophy of the distal upper jaw with tubero-pterygoid implant. The study identifies the main factors that may complicate implantation in distal maxillary aspects and looks at the advantages and disadvantages of tubero-pterygoid implants by comparison with traditional crestal implants.