Blade Implants
What a blade implant is
A blade implant is an implant with a flattened shape, designed to be placed in thin "knife-edge" bone ridges in the frontal area of the atrophic upper jaw, where traditional cylindrical implants cannot be placed due to insufficient bone thickness. It anchors in the basal bone guaranteeing primary stability and immediate loading.
The blade implant is a type of dental implant with a flattened and elongated shape, designed to be placed in narrow bone fissures. Unlike traditional cylindrical implants, its cross-section is as thin as a blade, hence the name.
It is used mainly in the frontal area of the upper maxilla (incisors and canines), where the knife-edge ridge does not allow the placement of screw implants of adequate diameter.
Thanks to its shape, the blade implant can be placed in sites with reduced bone thickness (3-4 mm), still using the depth of the underlying basal bone to guarantee stability.
Indications
The main indications of blade implants include: alveolar ridge with thickness below 5 mm, severe atrophy of the anterior maxilla, "knife-edge" morphology that does not accommodate cylindrical implants, and complex rehabilitations with generalised bone atrophy where implant support needs to be maximised without resorting to grafts.
- Thin alveolar bone: alveolar ridge with thickness < 5 mm
- Severe atrophy of the anterior maxilla: advanced bone loss in the frontal area
- Knife-edge ridge: residual bone morphology that does not accommodate cylindrical implants
- Complex rehabilitations: cases of generalised bone atrophy where implant support needs to be maximised
- Immediate loading: when primary stability allows it
Advantages
The main advantages of blade implants include: the possibility of placement in thin ridges without bone grafts, excellent primary stability thanks to the flattened shape that adapts to the bone cortex, anchorage in the basal bone that never resorbs, the possibility of immediate loading and minimal surgical invasiveness compared to traditional regenerative techniques.
- Uses the basal bone: anchors in the basal bone, which never resorbs over time
- Immediate loading: where primary stability is sufficient
- No bone graft: avoids the need for alveolar ridge reconstruction
- Minimal invasiveness: fast and low-trauma procedure
- Adaptability: adapts to difficult bone morphologies
Differences with traditional cylindrical implants
Unlike cylindrical screw implants, the blade implant has a flattened shape that requires only 3-4 mm of bone thickness (versus 5-6 mm for cylindrical ones), is placed with sagittal fissure preparation, integrates mainly in the cortical bone and is specifically indicated for the frontal area of the maxilla with thin ridges.
| Characteristic | Cylindrical implant | Blade implant |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Cylindrical/screw | Flattened (blade) |
| Minimum bone thickness | 5-6 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Area of choice | All areas | Frontal, thin ridges |
| Osseointegration | In contact with spongy bone | Mainly cortical |
| Immediate loading | Depends on torque | Yes, if well stabilised |
| Insertion technique | Preparation with cylindrical drills | Preparation with sagittal fissure |
Role in the BSS configuration
In the Bilateral Sinus Solution™ (BSS), blade implants complete the frontal support of the upper arch, working in synergy with the posterior pterygoid implants (18/28) — the only true basal implants — and the transverse nasal implants (15/25), which are placed in the dense bone of the retrocanine fossae (D1 quality). This three-level architecture distributes the masticatory loads on the natural resistance pillars of the facial skeleton, guaranteeing a fixed prosthesis with 14 teeth without fake gum.
In the Bilateral Sinus Solution™ (BSS), blade implants complete the frontal support of the upper arch, working in synergy with:
- Pterygoid implants (posterior area, 18/28)
- Transverse nasal implants (mid-anterior area, 15/25)
- Sub-nasal implants (frontal area, 4/6)
This implant architecture allows distributing the masticatory loads on the natural resistance pillars of the facial skeleton, guaranteeing a fixed prosthesis with 14 teeth without fake gum. For more details on the procedure, visit the Surgical Procedure page.
The Circolare d'Autore® prosthesis
- 14 teeth per arch, including all posterior molars
- Zero fake gum: the teeth emerge from the natural gum
- Zirconia + layered ceramic, with registered trademark ®
- Custom-made: every prosthesis is a unique piece designed for the patient
Discover all the details on the dedicated page: Circolare d'Autore® — the definitive prosthesis without fake gum.