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Short implants

Short implants (6 to 8 mm or less) are used where bone height is limited, sometimes in place of a sinus lift or vertical graft. Survival is close to standard implants, with more variability for the shortest designs.

What they are

Short implants are shorter than standard implants and are used where bone height is limited.1 The ITI Group 1 consensus (2018) studied posterior implants of 6 mm or less.1 A 2026 meta-analysis studied implants of 8 mm or less in the upper back jaw.2

Why they are used

Where bone height is limited, the options include adding bone (a sinus lift or vertical graft) or using a shorter implant.12 The ITI consensus concluded that short implants are a valid option to avoid the added surgery and morbidity of augmentation procedures.1

Results: 6 mm or less

The ITI Group 1 consensus compared short and standard implants over 1 to 5 years.1

ImplantSurvival range
Short (6 mm or less)86.7 to 100 percent
Standard95 to 100 percent

Short implants showed higher variability and lower predictability in survival.1 The risk ratio for failure was 1.24 and was not statistically significant.1 The same consensus found only insignificant differences between tapered and non-tapered implant designs.1

Results: 8 mm or less vs sinus lift

A 2026 meta-analysis of 8 randomized trials compared short implants with standard implants placed with a sinus floor elevation in the upper back jaw.2

  • Implant failure did not differ between the groups.2
  • Short implants had 0.15 mm less bone loss.2
  • The authors noted that sinus lift is linked to more surgical morbidity, longer treatment time and higher cost.2

Questions to ask

  • Is a short implant an option in place of a graft or sinus lift.
  • How long and how wide is the planned implant.
  • How the bite force will be shared if several short implants are used.

General information about dental implants. Treatment decisions are made with a licensed dentist.

Sources

  1. Jung RE et al. Group 1 ITI Consensus Report: implant length, design and medications. Clin Oral Implants Res 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Wang C et al. Short implants vs standard implants with sinus floor elevation: systematic review of RCTs. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2026. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence

Sourced facts

Each line links to the study or the specialty body it comes from.

  1. The ITI Group 1 consensus (2018) reported survival of 86.7 to 100 percent for short implants (6 mm or less) and 95 to 100 percent for standard implants over 1 to 5 years.

    Jung RE et al. Group 1 ITI Consensus Report: implant length, design and medications. Clin Oral Implants Res 2018 · checked October 2, 2026

  2. The consensus concluded short implants are a valid option to avoid augmentation surgery, with higher variability and lower predictability in survival.

    Jung RE et al. Group 1 ITI Consensus Report: implant length, design and medications. Clin Oral Implants Res 2018 · checked October 2, 2026

  3. A 2026 meta-analysis of 8 randomized trials found no difference in implant failure between short implants (8 mm or less) and standard implants with sinus floor elevation.

    Wang C et al. Short implants vs standard implants with sinus floor elevation: systematic review of RCTs. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2026 · checked October 2, 2026

  4. Short implants in that analysis showed 0.15 mm less marginal bone loss than standard implants with sinus lift.

    Wang C et al. Short implants vs standard implants with sinus floor elevation: systematic review of RCTs. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2026 · checked October 2, 2026

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Dr. Michael Pawlus
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Dr. Michael Pawlus

Periodontist · Sarasota

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Doctor page(941) 923-2288
Featured doctorDr. Michael Pawlus · Sarasota