What Are the 3 Types of Dental Implants?
Endosteal, subperiosteal and zygomatic implants compared, with when each is used.
Checked by our editors. A dentist review of this article is planned but has not happened yet.
What are the 3 types of dental implants? Endosteal implants sit inside the jawbone and are the most common. Subperiosteal implants rest on the bone under the gum. Zygomatic implants anchor in the cheekbone when the upper jaw has too little bone.
Most people who have an implant get the first type and never hear about the other two. They exist because not everyone has enough jawbone for a standard implant. Knowing the three types helps you understand why a clinic might suggest a bone graft, a specialist referral or a less familiar design.
How do the three types compare?
| Type | Where it sits | Typically used when |
|---|---|---|
| Endosteal | Inside the jawbone, replacing the tooth root | There is enough healthy jawbone; the most common type |
| Subperiosteal | On top of the jawbone, under the gum | There is not enough healthy bone for an endosteal implant |
| Zygomatic | Anchored in the cheekbone (zygoma), emerging in the upper jaw | The upper jaw is severely resorbed and bone grafting is not used |
What is an endosteal implant?
Healthline describes endosteal implants as the most common type: usually screw-shaped and placed deep in the jawbone to replace tooth roots. Colgate notes they can be titanium screws or blades and are the most widely used. Cleveland Clinic explains that the post fuses with the bone over three to nine months before the final tooth is attached. If your jawbone is too thin or soft, Healthline says a bone graft or other procedure may be suggested first.
What is a subperiosteal implant?
Healthline says subperiosteal implants are used when there isn’t enough healthy jawbone to support an endosteal implant. They sit above or on the bone rather than in it. Colgate notes improvements in imaging, bone grafting and implant design have made them less common.
A 2024 review published on PubMed Central traces subperiosteal implants back to the 1940s and explains that modern versions are custom titanium frameworks designed from CT scans using CAD software and made by additive manufacturing (3D printing). The same review reports that early designs had problems including infection, poor fit and failure, which is one reason they have long been a less common choice.
What is a zygomatic implant?
Zygomatic implants are longer implants anchored in the cheekbone. A multicentre study published on PubMed Central describes them as a viable graftless option for treating a severely atrophied (shrunken) upper jaw, allowing teeth to be restored at the back of the mouth without bone grafts. If this option is suggested, ask how often the surgeon carries out the procedure.
How does a dentist decide which type you need?
The decision is mainly about bone. Colgate says the right type depends on your jawbone’s size, shape and health. The Oral Health Foundation says the implant dentist checks your mouth and the health and strength of your jawbone, then gives you a treatment plan covering each stage and its costs. A good assessment should leave you clear on:
- how much bone you have where the implant is planned
- whether a bone graft could make a standard implant possible
- which implant type is proposed and why
- what each stage involves and costs
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust notes that bone grafting may be needed to increase jawbone for support, though not everyone needs it.
Questions to ask about implant type
- Which type are you recommending, and why?
- Would a bone graft allow a standard endosteal implant instead?
- How many of this type have you placed?
- What are the specific risks of this design for me?
- How will the replacement teeth attach?
Implant size is another variable: our mini dental implants review covers narrower posts, and All-on-6 dental implants explains full-arch options built on standard implants.
Sources
- Healthline, Dental Implant Procedure: What to Know
- Colgate, What Is A Dental Implant?
- PubMed Central, The Evolution of Custom Subperiosteal Implants for Treatment of Partial or Complete Edentulism in Patients with Severe Alveolar Ridge Atrophy
- PubMed Central, Clinical Performance of Zygomatic Implants: Retrospective Multicenter Study
- Oral Health Foundation, Dental implants
- Cleveland Clinic, Dental Implants
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Dental implants
This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own dentist.
