What Are Zygomatic Dental Implants?
Zygomatic implants are designed specifically for patients with bone loss, zygomatic implants are tilted and much longer than a traditional dental implant. While traditional implants are placed in the jawbone, the zygomatic implant utilizes the patient’s cheekbone (zygoma) to make sure they are securely in place. The zygoma is a very dense bone and provides excellent support for zygomatic implants.
Thanks to advancements in dentistry, patients who have been told they are not candidates for traditional dental implants, can be considered for zygomatic implants. There is a small list of surgeons in the world, less in the United States, who have the skills and qualifications to place zygomatic implants. The leader in Michigan and the midwest is Dr. Bruce Smoler, who has been trained by some of the best to place and help patients that need zygomatic implants.
Benefits of Zygomatic Implants
When completed by our experienced Dr. Bruce Smoler, zygomatic dental implant surgery is safe and predictable. The long-term success of zygomatic implants with our comprehensive follow-up care and services is 99% success rate.
- Faster end result without bone grafting
- Full replacement of an upper arch denture or missing teeth
- Excellent stability & long-term results
- Smooth implant designed to prevent bacterial adhesion
Why Consider Zygomatic Dental Implants?
If you need dental implants but have been told you are not a candidate due to no bone in your upper jaw, you may be a candidate for zygomatic implants. Without zygomatic implant treatment options for patients with bone loss, the option would be sinus bone grafting. This is a process that commonly takes 6 to 9 months, sometimes longer before implants could be placed. Then the bone quality typically is not strong enough to load the implants immediately. This would mean more time to wait before teeth can be made on the implants.
At Smoler Smiles the option of Zygomatic implants offers patients a solution to receive full mouth teeth replacement at one time. No Sinus Bone grafting is needed.
Have you been told you need bone grafting? Zygomatic Implants may be the solution!
Common Questions About Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants are designed specifically for patients with bone loss, zygomatic implants are tilted and much longer than a traditional dental implant. While traditional implants are placed in the jawbone, the zygomatic implant utilizes the patient’s cheekbone (zygoma) to make sure they are securely in place. The zygoma is a very dense bone and provides excellent support for zygomatic implants.
- Do you have bone loss in your upper jaw?
- Have you been missing teeth in your upper jaw for a while?
- Have you been wearing a denture for more than 10+ years?
If you answered yes to any of the above you are likely an ideal candidate for zygomatic implants.
If you have been wearing dentures or a removable bridge for many years, these may lead to bone loss. The bone loss could be so severe that the only option for permanent teeth in the upper jaw is zygomatic implants.
Zygomatic implant procedures have several advantages over bone grafting and traditional implants when you have a limited quantity of bone in the upper jaw:
- An effective option for patients who cannot have traditional implants
- Less invasive & faster results than bone grafting and sinus lift operations
- Faster healing time
- Immediate teeth
- An excellent alternative to dentures
- Precise predictability & safe procedure
- Immediate results with improvement in function, appearance, & stability
- Smooth implant design to prevent bacterial adhesion
The zygomatic implant procedure timeline is as follows:
- Consultation
- Evaluation
- Make financial arrangements
- Implant surgery with sedation
- Fixed-bridge teeth loaded immediately
Historically, zygomatic implants were placed through the sinus cavity which resulted in surgical complications but also placed the top of the implant more toward the palate. As a result, the final teeth were thicker and more unnatural.
Improved techniques in dentistry, allows the implant to be placed outside the sinus cavity, or bypass the sinus cavity, this way we are able to reduce surgical risks and position the implant in a more ideal location for the implant to support teeth.
Studies have shown that this type of implant placement is safe. The new techniques are simple, fast, and have fewer complications. In addition, this placement technique enables the restoration of teeth without bone structure in cases once considered impossible.
