Maxillary Rehabilitation with Pterygoid Implants: Evaluating Success and Complications in 58 Clinical Cases

Background and Objective: The rehabilitation of the posterior maxilla is often hindered by unfavorable bone quality, sinus pneumatization, and anatomical constraints. Pterygoid implants are a desirable alternative to traditional techniques by engaging dense pterygoid plate, thereby circumventing sinus augmentation. The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate clinical outcomes of unilateral versus bilateral pterygoid implant placements regarding implant success and rate of complications. Methods: This retrospective clinical study included 58 patients treated between February 2018 and August 2024. Data were retrieved from patient records and split based on the implant site placement: unilateral (posterior Maxillary one side rehabilitation) (n=29) or bilateral (full arch Maxillary rehabilitation) (n=29). All the patients underwent treatment with pterygoid implants placed with a standardized surgical procedure. Success was considered as absence of mobility, pain, infection, and lack of peri-implant radiolucency. Results: The age range of the patients in the study is from 29 to 77 years with Mean Age of 56.8 years. All 58 cases demonstrated a 100% implant survival rate. Only one patient was with complications, while minor, non-critical complications were reported in the remaining cases. There were no statistically significant differences between the unilateral and bilateral groups in terms of complication or success rates. Conclusion: Both unilateral and bilateral pterygoid implant placements yielded good clinical outcomes with minimal complications. It is evident from this research that both methods can be used successfully in prosthetic rehabilitation of the atrophied posterior maxilla depending on the specific anatomical and clinical condition. Keywords: Pterygoid implant, unilateral, bilateral, posterior maxilla, implant success