Abstract: Patients with atrophic posterior maxilla challenge implant surgeons for the low bone quality and quantity. In recent years, pterygoid implants have gained extensive attention, and have vast potentials as an alternative for the rehabilitation of atrophic posterior maxilla. Pterygoid implants with no need of grafting, avoid related complications, reduce the treatment cost and shorten the treatment cycle. Pterygoid is the dense bone which provides ideal primary stability for implants and avoids the biomechanical overload risk caused by cantilever, showing more successful clinical effects. This article reviews related anatomy, indications, insertion methods, immediate loading and complications of pterygoid implants.

Key words: atrophic maxilla, pterygoid implant, pterygomaxillary implant, tilted implant