Zygomatic Implants

Treat significant tooth loss in your upper jaw, even if you have been told you don’t have enough bone to support implants. Zygomatic implants place longer implant posts into the cheekbone to provide a stable support for full upper arch teeth replacements, and to bypass the need for sufficient bone density in the jaw.

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What are zygomatic implants?

Zygomatic dental implants are a form of full mouth implants, designed to replace the upper arch of teeth where patients are missing most or all of their natural teeth. Similar to full mouth implants, zygomatic implants replace the entire arch using four or more implant posts, but instead of having all implants placed in the jawbone, two posts are implanted in the zygoma, more commonly known as the cheekbone.

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When to get zygoma implants

While full mouth implants help patients who have lost most or all of their teeth in an arch, even with bone decay, patients still need to have enough bone density to support the implant posts. Zygomatic implants are an alternative for patients who do not have the required bone density in their jaw, as two implant posts extend further than the jaw and either into the pterygoid (found slightly behind and above the upper jawbone) or the zygoma.

Significant tooth loss often leads to bone atrophy and deterioration in the jaw, which can lead to the bone reshaping. Wearing dentures for many years can have the same effect. Using the cheekbone provides a very stable and supportive ‘anchor’ area for implants, ensuring patients with significant jaw bone loss can still improve and restore their smiles.

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Zygomatic implant process

Similar to any other dental implant treatment, our team begins with a thorough analysis of any existing teeth, as well as your oral health and bone density. If zygomatic implants are deemed to be the best treatment course, we use digital scans to assess the best areas for implants to be placed.

The treatment itself is completed under anaesthetic and involves at least two implants being placed in the middle of the upper jaw, and two longer implants placed at a 45 degree angle into the jawbone. Placing them this way ensures they remain stable and secure, and can comfortably support the force used with your new teeth. 

In cases of severe bone loss, your dentist may opt to place all of the implants into the zygoma instead of any in your jaw bone. Once the implants are placed, we allow the sites to heal for 1 to 2 days before attaching your new prosthesis.

Benefits of Zygomatic implants

One of the major benefits of receiving zygoma dental implants is that the procedure rarely requires any bone grafting. Other single implant procedures may require you to undergo grafting, which can take extra time and be painful. Zygomatic implants can also be used to restore other failed implant treatments by using more stable bone areas.

Given how quick the full treatment can be completed, zygomatic implants also ensure that you have a very limited time without stable teeth, while other treatments often have lengthier processes. Once your new prosthetic teeth are placed, the implants also improve your appearance and smile, ensuring you can live with security.

Stable dental implant surgery at CDIC

Even those with significant teeth and bone loss can still get implant treatment from well-practised dentists. Our Principal Dentist Dr Hillel New was one of Australia’s first dentists formally trained in All On 4 treatment, and has decades of experience performing every type of dental implant procedure. Having delivered hundreds of safe and effective implant procedures, our expertise and patient care make us Melbourne’s home for implant treatments.

Our team at CDIC is prepared to restore your teeth with a variety of quality, pain-free solutions. Book in an obligation-free consultation today to find out which treatment would be right for you and how we can help you begin your smile transformation.