DentalPterygoid & nasal implants
Pterygoid and nasal implants anchor a fixed bridge in the back and front of a severely resorbed upper jaw without sinus grafting. Here is how these advanced techniques work, who they suit, and their risks.
Last reviewed: 20 July 2026
What these implants are
The back of the upper jaw is a common problem area: the sinus sits low and the bone is thin, so standard implants there often need a sinus lift and grafting. Pterygoid implants solve this differently — a long implant is angled from the back of the upper jaw into the dense pterygoid plate of the skull, well behind the sinus. This provides solid rear anchorage for a full-arch bridge without lifting the sinus, and lets the bridge extend to the back teeth (molars) rather than stopping short.
Nasal (or "nasalus" / trans-nasal) implants are a less common technique using the bone around the base of the nasal aperture at the front of the upper jaw for anchorage in very resorbed cases. Both are advanced options usually combined with standard or zygomatic implants as part of a full-arch, graft-free strategy for the atrophic upper jaw.
Who it suits — and who it may not
Considered for people who: have significant upper-jaw bone loss, particularly at the back, and want to avoid sinus grafting or extend a fixed bridge to full molar support. Not appropriate if: standard implants or a simple sinus lift can achieve the goal, or if anatomy or sinus disease makes the approach unsafe. These are technique-sensitive procedures requiring an experienced surgeon and precise CBCT planning; they are not routine.
Step by step
- 1. Detailed CBCT planning Mapping the pterygoid plate or nasal anatomy and the implant trajectory.
- 2. Surgery The long implant is placed at a steep angle into the dense target bone, often under sedation.
- 3. Combined arch design Usually placed alongside front implants (standard or zygomatic) to support a full fixed bridge.
- 4. Loading A fixed temporary bridge is often possible early thanks to strong anchorage.
- 5. Final bridge Fitted after healing.
Materials and approach
These are titanium implants, often longer than standard, placed with specialised technique. They are offered by comparatively few, experienced implant and maxillofacial surgeons. The final restoration is a full-arch fixed bridge, using the usual full-arch materials.
Healing, risks and timeline
Because the angles and target sites are demanding, precise planning is essential. Risks include injury to nearby structures, bleeding, sinus or nasal involvement, and the technical difficulty of achieving an accurately positioned implant — all of which make surgeon experience the key variable. The main advantage is avoiding sinus grafting and the months of healing it adds, so overall treatment can be quicker for suitable patients.
How they fit a graft-free full-arch plan
These techniques are rarely used alone. In a typical severely-resorbed upper jaw, a surgeon might combine two implants in the stronger bone at the front with pterygoid implants at the back, or pair zygomatic implants with pterygoid anchorage, to build a full arch that reaches the molars without a sinus lift. The appeal is twofold: the bridge can extend far enough back to chew properly, and the months of healing that a lateral sinus graft would add are avoided — which for someone travelling for treatment can mean one fewer trip. The trade-off is that this is demanding surgery where a millimetre of error matters, so it lives or dies on the surgeon's specific experience with these anatomically difficult placements.
Questions worth asking
- Does this clinic actually place pterygoid (or nasal) implants routinely, and who performs them?
- How does this plan compare, in trips and healing time, with a sinus lift and standard implants?
- What imaging and planning will be done to map the trajectory safely?
- How will follow-up and any maintenance work once I am back home?
Typical approach in Turkey and indicative price
Some Turkish full-arch and maxillofacial centres use pterygoid implants as part of graft-free full-arch upper solutions; nasal implants are rarer. Pricing is usually folded into a full-arch quote rather than sold as a standalone item, so ask how these implants change the overall plan and cost versus grafting.
Indicative only (GBP; rates fluctuate) and case-dependent. Verify with the clinic and prioritise surgeon experience. See the implant cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pterygoid implant?
It is a long implant angled from the back of the upper jaw into the dense pterygoid plate of the skull, behind the sinus. It gives solid rear anchorage for a full-arch bridge without a sinus lift, and lets the bridge extend to the back molars.
Do pterygoid implants avoid a sinus lift?
That is a main reason to use them — by anchoring behind the sinus they can avoid sinus grafting at the back of the upper jaw, which shortens overall treatment. Whether they suit you depends on your anatomy on a CBCT scan and surgeon experience.
What are nasal implants?
Nasal or trans-nasal implants use the bone around the base of the nasal opening at the front of a very resorbed upper jaw for anchorage. They are a less common technique, usually part of a full-arch, graft-free strategy in difficult cases.
Are pterygoid and nasal implants safe?
In experienced hands they are recognised techniques, but they are technically demanding and carry risks related to nearby anatomy, so they should only be done by surgeons with specific experience after careful 3D planning. Discuss the risks and the surgeon's track record directly.
How do these differ from zygomatic implants?
All are advanced anchorage options for the atrophic upper jaw. Zygomatic implants use the cheekbone, pterygoid implants use the pterygoid plate behind the sinus, and nasal implants use bone near the nasal base. They are often combined within a single full-arch plan.
Are these implants available in Turkey?
Some full-arch and maxillofacial centres in Turkey offer pterygoid implants as part of graft-free upper solutions; nasal implants are rarer. Ask specifically whether a clinic performs them, how often, and how they change your plan versus grafting.
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