The Additively Manufactured Subperiosteal Jaw Implant (AMSJI) has proven to be a valuable alternative to reconstruction with bone grafts and zygomatic implants for implant rehabilitation when extreme jaw atrophy is present.

Materials and methods

The principles and techniques of historic subperiosteal implant fabrication have been reconsidered in light of current technologies such as computer-aided design, virtual tests for evaluating the stress/strain of material and bone, and 3D printing of titanium alloys. Based on the experience gained with other craniomaxillofacial patient-specific implants, a high-tech subperiosteal implant was born.

Results

320 patients with bone defects in height and thickness that would have required the use of more invasive techniques were rehabilitated with a direct fix prosthesis. We describe the rationale, indications and patient-reported outcome measures and oral health in 40 cases with a mean follow-up of 1000 days.

Conclusion

Despite the limited experience, this technique is considered an alternative approach in the treatment of extreme atrophy of the maxilla because it follows the principle of "primum non nocere". Smoking and in particular the thin soft tissue biotype predispose to keratinized soft tissue recessions.