Who might it be relevant for?
Selected cases with limited bone height.
← All explanationsShort dental implants
When might short dental implants be considered?
Short implants may be an option when bone height is limited, particularly in the back of the jaw. Definitions vary; the ITI consensus used here compares implants six millimetres long or shorter with longer implants. Length alone does not make an implant suitable or unsuitable. Bone, loading and the planned restoration must be assessed together.
For training & practice ↓
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Assessing the available height
Planning considers the bone and neighbouring structures such as the mandibular canal or maxillary sinus. A suitable implant length cannot be determined from an ordinary photograph.
Length is only one factor
Diameter, position, bone quality and loading also matter. In selected situations, short implants may reduce the extent of additional bone augmentation.
Planning restoration and follow-up
The future crown or bridge, cleaning and reviews belong in the decision. Study findings do not guarantee an individual outcome; longer-term results require particular care in interpretation.
Read the full explanation
Assessing the available height
Planning considers the bone and neighbouring structures such as the mandibular canal or maxillary sinus. A suitable implant length cannot be determined from an ordinary photograph.
Length is only one factor
Diameter, position, bone quality and loading also matter. In selected situations, short implants may reduce the extent of additional bone augmentation.
Planning restoration and follow-up
The future crown or bridge, cleaning and reviews belong in the decision. Study findings do not guarantee an individual outcome; longer-term results require particular care in interpretation.
Notes on the teaching images
- Bone availability · not measurable from the model
- Components · no length category defined by the image
- Plan restoration and follow-up individually
At a glance
Is treatment automatically simpler?
No. The overall findings and future restoration determine the treatment involved.
What should be discussed?
Safe positioning, alternatives and limitations of the available long-term evidence.
Knowledge in motion
Explained in 36 seconds.
Three steps. No audio.
Each scene can also be selected manually.
Silent educational film with German on-screen text and simplified teaching images. Not a patient case or a promised treatment outcome. The full English explanation is available as text.
Often confused
Often confused: short and narrow
Length runs along the implant into the bone; diameter runs across it. A short implant need not be narrow, and a narrow implant need not be short.
Quick answers
Can bone augmentation always be avoided?
No. A short implant may be an alternative to more extensive augmentation in suitable cases. There must still be enough bone for safe positioning.
Do short implants last as well as long implants?
The 2018 ITI consensus describes comparable survival in selected studies over one to five years but notes uncertainty with longer time in function. This is not a guarantee of equivalence for every restoration.
Is a mini implant the same thing?
No. Short refers to length; a mini implant usually refers to a particularly small diameter. These features should not be confused.
At the practice
For the appointment
You can bring this question to your appointment:
Would a short implant be suitable in my case, and what are its advantages and disadvantages compared with bone augmentation?
If bone height is limited, you can discuss suitable restoration options and their individual limitations.
Discuss your findingsAppointment selection at DoctolibLearning layer for training & practiceUnderstand terminology and deepen knowledge
- Implant length
- The extent of the implant body along its long axis.
- Augmentation
- A procedure to build up tissue, in this context mainly jaw bone.
Make the distinction
Length runs along the implant into the bone; diameter runs across it. A short implant need not be narrow, and a narrow implant need not be short.
Sources and context
Editorial research: . General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Teaching illustrations are simplified and do not depict a patient case.