For a dental implant to be successful, the alveolar ridge must have sufficient volume. When it doesn’t, periodontists can choose to use a unilateral subperiosteal implant, a type of dental implant that was specifically developed for patients who do not have enough residual bone in the alveolar ridge. This type of implant has survival/success rates similar to other modalities. Unilateral subperiosteal implants are contraindicated in patients with an overabundance of bone. The procedure involves two stages; first, a bone impression is taken and second, the custom dental implant is placed. A subperiosteal dental implant is made to rest on top of the bone under the periosteum instead of traditional implant hardware that is placed much deeper into bone. Instead, the implant disperses pressure over a larger surface area, much like a snowshoe. The implant is made from a custom metal casting that adheres to the bone with direct support and surrounding fibrous tissue.