The subperiosteal implant as a viable long-term treatment modality in the severely atrophied mandible: a patient's 40-year case history.

Subperiosteal implants have been a treatment modality for atrophied edentulous mandibles for almost 50 years. A case is presented tracing a patient's 40-year history with treatment of his severely atrophied fully edentulous mandible with a subperiosteal implant and removable implant-borne prosthesis. The subperiosteal implant should be considered as a long-term treatment option in those patients who are unable to wear a lower full denture due to resorption of the ridge and osseous defects that provide inadequate bone for placement of endosseous blade- or root-form implants. This case demonstrates the long-term viability of the subperiosteal implant.