Subperiosteal implant in Turkey: what it is and how it works
A subperiosteal implant is a custom-made metal framework that rests on top of the jawbone, underneath the gum, instead of being screwed into the bone like a conventional implant. The word comes from the periosteum, the thin membrane that covers the bone: the frame sits beneath the gum and that membrane. Small posts pass through the gum and carry a fixed set of teeth. Today the frame is designed on a computer from a 3D scan of your jaw and is usually printed in titanium, then fixed to the bone with several small screws. Hospitals in Turkey offer it mainly for people whose jawbone is too thin or too short for standard implants.
This guide explains how the frame is made, what is known about how well it lasts, who it suits, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, and what to ask a clinic. For the wider range of options see our dental treatments in Turkey.
Why is a subperiosteal implant used instead of a standard implant?
A standard implant is a screw that needs enough bone height and width to hold it. After years without teeth, with long-term dentures or after gum disease, the jawbone shrinks. Dentists then have three broad choices: rebuild the bone with a graft, use special long implants that anchor in other bones, or place a frame on the bone you still have. The subperiosteal frame belongs to the third group. Its attraction is that it avoids a bone graft, which can mean a long wait and a second operation site, and that it can sometimes be fitted when other methods have been ruled out.
The older versions, used from the 1940s, were cast from an impression of the exposed bone and had a poor record: they often loosened or became infected. The current approach is different because the design comes from a CT scan and the frame is fixed with screws, but it is still a specialist option rather than a first choice.
How is the custom frame designed and fitted, step by step?
The process runs in stages. First, a cone-beam CT scan of your jaw is taken, either in Turkey or at a radiology centre at home. Second, the dental team and an engineer design the frame on screen so that it follows the shape of the bone and avoids nerves and sinuses. Third, the titanium frame is printed or milled, which usually takes two to four weeks. Fourth, surgery: under local anaesthesia with sedation, or general anaesthesia, the surgeon lifts the gum, positions the frame on the bone, fixes it with screws and closes the gum around the posts. Operating time is commonly two to three hours for one jaw. A temporary fixed bridge may be attached the same day or after the gum has settled, and the final bridge follows when healing is complete.
Does a subperiosteal implant work? What does the evidence say?
The honest answer is that it can work, but the evidence base is thinner than for conventional implants. Standard implants have decades of large studies behind them, as described by bodies such as the NHS and the American Dental Association. For modern, digitally designed subperiosteal frames the published evidence is mainly case series and short to medium follow-up reports, with fewer long comparisons against other methods. These reports describe many frames functioning well, with problems that include gum tissue opening over the frame and infection. Nobody can promise a figure for how long your frame will last. A careful surgeon will tell you this, explain that the frame depends on the gum staying healthy, and ask you to attend regular reviews.
Subperiosteal implant cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for one jaw including the frame and a fixed bridge, not hospital quotes. Each hospital confirms its own price in writing after seeing your scan.
| Country | Approximate cost range (one jaw) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €4,500 – €10,000 |
| United Kingdom | €10,000 – €25,000 |
| United States | €12,000 – €30,000 |
| Germany | €9,000 – €22,000 |
What changes the price: the engineering and printing of the custom frame, whether both jaws are treated, the type of anaesthesia, whether a temporary bridge is included, and the material of the final teeth, such as acrylic or zirconia. Ask whether the scan, design fee, any revision of the frame, the final bridge and a review visit are all in the quote, and what happens if the frame does not fit.
Subperiosteal implant, bone graft or All-on-6: which route suits you?
The nearest alternatives solve the same problem in different ways. A bone graft or sinus lift rebuilds the jaw so that standard implants can be used; it is well proven but takes months. All-on-6 dental implants use six standard implants, some angled, to carry a fixed bridge and need a minimum amount of bone. Zygomatic implants anchor in the cheekbone for the upper jaw and are a specialist alternative.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Subperiosteal implant | Severe bone loss when grafting is not wanted or has failed | Less long-term evidence; depends on healthy gum over the frame |
| Bone graft plus standard implants | Moderate bone loss and enough time | Several months of healing; extra operation |
| All-on-6 | Enough bone for six standard implants | Not suitable if bone is very thin |
A surgeon should show you on your own scan why one route is recommended over another, and say plainly if you are better off with a different one.
Who is a good candidate for a subperiosteal implant, and who is not?
You are more likely to be suited if your jawbone is too thin or short for standard implants, you wear loose dentures that cause pain, you are missing most or all teeth in a jaw and you have a healthy mouth lining. It is less suitable if you smoke heavily and cannot stop, have uncontrolled diabetes, are receiving or have received radiotherapy to the jaw, take bisphosphonate or similar drugs without specialist advice, or have untreated gum infection. Good brushing and cleaning around the posts matters because the frame sits under the gum. The surgeon will review your medical history and scan before agreeing to operate.
What does the operation feel like, and how long is the recovery?
You are numbed or asleep during surgery. Afterwards expect swelling, bruising and a sore jaw for several days, which is usually managed with painkillers prescribed by the clinic, and a soft diet. Stitches are removed after about ten to fourteen days. Swelling peaks around the second to third day and settles over one to two weeks. Many people return to light work after about a week, but the gum needs several weeks to heal around the posts, and the final bridge is normally fitted after roughly three to six months. Gentle rinsing, careful brushing and no smoking all help the tissue seal.
How many days should you plan for Turkey?
Because the frame is custom made, treatment often needs two trips. The first visit, or a scan done locally, is for the CT and design. The surgical visit usually lasts about five to seven days so that the surgeon can check the gum, remove or adjust the temporary bridge and answer problems before you fly. The second visit, several months later, is for the final bridge and takes a few days. Short flights are normally allowed once the surgeon has checked you. Ask the clinic to explain whether any step can be done by video or at your own dentist.
What are the risks of a subperiosteal implant?
Every surgical procedure carries risk. The risks specific to this method include infection around the posts, loosening of the frame, gum tissue wearing away so that metal becomes visible, bone loss under the frame and, in the upper jaw, problems with the sinus. Less common problems are nerve irritation causing numbness and anaesthetic complications. General implant information from the NHS and the American Dental Association advises a full assessment, good oral hygiene and regular dental reviews, and these apply even more to a frame under the gum. Ask what happens if the frame has to be removed and who will treat you at home if there is a problem.
How do you choose a surgeon and hospital, and what are the red flags?
Look for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or an implantologist with documented experience of custom frames, not only standard implants. The hospital should be licensed, use cone-beam CT, and give you a written plan with the number of screws, the material and the price before you pay a deposit. Red flags include promises that the frame will last for life, no CT scan before the quote, quotes with no breakdown, pressure to book quickly and no clear plan for aftercare in your own country. Read how our process works and request a plan through the free quote page.
Questions to ask the clinic:
- Is a subperiosteal implant really my best option, and what are the alternatives for my scan?
- Who designs and who makes the frame, and which material is used?
- How many times has the surgeon fitted this type of frame, and what are the follow-up results?
- What is covered if the frame needs adjusting or replacing?
- How many trips are needed and what happens between them?
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a custom-made titanium frame that rests on the jawbone under the gum, with small posts that carry a fixed set of teeth. It is used when there is too little bone for standard implants.
It can work for people with severe bone loss, and modern frames are designed from a 3D scan. The long-term evidence is thinner than for standard implants, so a surgeon cannot promise how long it will last.
Approximate ranges are €4,500 to €10,000 per jaw in Turkey, against about €10,000 to €25,000 in the UK. The final price depends on the frame, the bridge material and whether both jaws are treated.
Neither is right for everyone. A graft rebuilds bone and has more evidence behind it but takes months. A frame avoids grafting but has less long-term data. Your scan decides which is realistic.
Swelling and soreness settle over one to two weeks, and many people return to light work after about a week. The gum needs several weeks to heal, and the final bridge usually follows after three to six months.
The jaw is numbed or you are asleep during surgery. Afterwards expect soreness, swelling and bruising for several days, which prescribed painkillers usually control.
There is no reliable figure. Success depends on healthy gum over the frame, good cleaning, not smoking and regular reviews. A clinic that promises it lasts for life is not being straightforward.
It is an established surgical option, but risks include infection, gum recession exposing the metal and loosening of the frame. A full assessment, a licensed hospital and regular follow-up reduce these risks.
All-on-6 uses six standard implants and needs enough bone to hold them. A subperiosteal frame is considered when the bone is too thin, so the choice depends on your scan.
Plan about five to seven days for the surgical visit, plus a scan beforehand and a second short visit several months later for the final bridge. The clinic should set out the exact schedule.