Dental Implants in Cheekbone: Step-by-Step Surgical Guide

For many people with missing teeth, dental implants offer a life-changing solution. But when the upper jaw has significant bone loss, traditional dental implant treatment often isn’t possible. That’s where the zygomatic implant comes in, an advanced technique that uses the cheekbone as foundation for dental restoration. 

If you’ve been told you don’t have enough bone in the upper jaw for conventional dental implants, this guide is for you.

Zygomatic Implant What Makes It Different

Unlike traditional dental implants that anchor into the jawbone, a zygomatic implant is placed in the zygoma, also known as the cheekbone. This dense bone provides solid support for the implant. Zygomatic implants are designed to help patients who have experienced severe bone loss in the upper jaw, giving them an option for dental implant placement without bone grafting procedures.

Because the zygomatic bone is naturally dense and stable, implants are surgically anchored there to support a dental prosthesis. Zygomatic implants offer an alternative to extensive bone augmentation procedures and make implant treatment possible even for patients with extensive bone loss.

Bone Loss Why It Matters

Bone loss in the upper jaw happens for many reasons: long-term denture use, gum disease, or simply the body’s response to missing teeth. Over time, the bone in the upper jaw shrinks, leaving insufficient bone density for a traditional implant. Patients with severe bone loss in the upper jaw often hear they aren’t candidates for traditional dental implants, but zygomatic implants can be used in these cases.

By using the zygoma bone as support, zygomatic implants restore function without the need for additional bone grafting. They provide a solution to missing teeth even when bone in the jaw is thin or compromised.

Dental Implant Options and Why Zygomatic Matters

Conventional dental implants require sufficient bone volume in the jaw. When patients have experienced significant bone loss, they may be advised to undergo bone grafting procedures before implant placement. While grafting can rebuild the foundation for dental implant placement, it also means longer healing times and more surgeries.

Zygomatic implants are a viable option for patients with extensive bone loss who want to avoid additional bone grafting. Implants are placed in the cheekbone, which provides enough bone to support the implant securely.

Bone Grafting When It Is and Isn’t Needed

Bone grafting procedures have long been used to rebuild bone in the upper jaw. While these grafting procedures are effective, they add months of healing before the actual implant surgery can begin. 

Patients with extensive bone loss in the upper often find that zygomatic implants offer an alternative solution without bone augmentation procedures. For many, this means faster treatment and fewer surgeries.

Traditional Dental Implant Compared to Zygomatic

Conventional dental implants treatment works beautifully for patients with sufficient bone density in the upper jaw. But for patients who have significant bone loss in the upper jaw, implants may not integrate properly. Unlike traditional dental implants, zygomatic implants are designed for patients with severe bone loss and can be placed directly into the cheekbone for stability.

In fact, implants due to zygomatic bone strength can last longer than traditional implants for patients who otherwise wouldn’t qualify as candidates for dental bridges or dentures.

Implant Surgery How Zygomatic Implants Are Placed

Zygomatic implant surgery is a precise procedure carried out by an experienced implant dentist. Here’s the step-by-step flow of zygomatic implant placement:

1. Assessment: The dentist evaluates the bone structure of the jaw and cheekbone with advanced scans.

2. Planning: A custom treatment plan determines if zygomatic implants are placed alongside traditional implants or on their own.

3. Implant placement: The implants are surgically anchored into the zygoma bone. Often two zygomatic implants are placed on each side of the upper jaw to support a full arch prosthesis.

4. Prosthesis fitting: Once stable, a dental prosthesis such as a bridge or denture is attached, restoring both function and appearance.

Because zygomatic implants are placed in dense bone, they often allow immediate loading, meaning patients can leave with new teeth sooner.

Zygomatic Implant Surgery What to Expect

Unlike traditional implants that may require additional bone grafting, zygomatic implant surgery makes use of the existing cheekbone. The placement of zygomatic implants is more complex than conventional dental implants, so it requires a highly skilled surgeon. Patients who have experienced bone loss in the upper jaw benefit from this advanced approach because it avoids additional bone grafting.

Implants are designed to support the implant prosthesis and restore chewing ability. With proper care, implants restore confidence, comfort, and oral health long term.

Benefits of Zygomatic Implants

The advantages of zygomatic implants are clear:

• They provide a foundation for dental prosthesis without bone grafting.

• They are a solution for patients who aren’t candidates for traditional implants after gum disease due to severe bone loss.

• They can reduce treatment time compared to bone grafting procedures.

• They offer patients with extensive bone loss a reliable solution to missing teeth.

The benefits of zygomatic dental implants make them a life-changing option for those who have been told implants aren’t possible.

Zygomatic Dental Implant Who Is a Candidate

An ideal candidate for zygomatic implants is someone who has insufficient bone in the upper jaw or has experienced significant bone loss but still wants a permanent solution to missing teeth. Zygomatic implants are placed in patients who have extensive bone loss, allowing implants to be surgically anchored without bone grafting procedures.

Zygomatic implants are similar in design to conventional dental implants but longer, so they can reach the zygoma bone. Implants provide stability for a dental prosthesis, making them a solution for patients with severe bone loss in the upper jaw.

Zygomatic implants require a thorough exam to determine if zygomatic implants can be placed safely. Your dentist will determine if zygomatic implant placement is right for you.

Getting Zygomatic Implants The Takeaway

For patients who have experienced significant bone loss, getting zygomatic implants can be life-changing. These implants are surgically placed in the cheekbone, bypassing the need for additional bone grafting. Implants are designed to restore missing teeth, improve oral health, and provide a permanent alternative to dentures.

Zygomaticus implants restore confidence and function while avoiding the challenges of bone augmentation. For patients with severe bone loss in the upper jaw, zygomatic implants offer an option for patients who thought they weren’t candidates for traditional dental implants.

Zygomatic implants can be used as a solution for patients who want reliable, long-term implant outcomes without bone grafting procedures. They can be explored alongside dental implant cost considerations and financing options.