Dental implants are the sturdiest, most reliable, and most natural-feeling tooth replacement option available. Unlike other options, all of which replace only the crown of the tooth, dental implants replace the entire tooth, from the crown all the way down to the root. Implants look and function just like natural teeth. They not only make it possible to eat the foods you love and smile without the embarrassment of denture slippage, but they also support jawbone health.
Qualified candidates must have sufficient jawbone to support the implants. Those who don’t usually undergo a bone grafting procedure before they can begin the implant process, which can postpone their smile restoration for a year or more. But not everyone wants to wait that long. For those with severe bone loss in the upper jaw, Zygomatic dental implants provide a solution that bypasses the need for bone grafting surgery. Here’s what you need to know.
Zygomatic implants are a special type of dental implant designed to replace the upper teeth. They are longer than traditional implants and placed at an angle because they are inserted into the cheekbone (zygoma) rather than the jaw. Zygomatic implants are particularly beneficial for those who have severe jawbone atrophy in their upper jaw. Unlike standard dental implants that take months to fuse to the jawbone, Zygomatic implants anchor securely and immediately in the cheekbone. An individual may require one or two Zygomatic implants on each side of the upper jaw to support a full or partial set of dental bridges, which can be placed the same day.
When you chew, your tooth root stimulates your jawbone, which sends a message to your body for nutrients to be sent to the area to preserve bone strength. But when the teeth are lost or extracted, the area no longer receives nutrients, so the bone begins to atrophy. The bone loss process begins as soon as six months after tooth loss and quickly progresses. People who wear dentures for many years and want to switch to implants often must first undergo a bone grafting procedure in order to build up the jawbone. Zygomatic implants provide another alternative for upper jaw implants.
Zygomatic implants consist of an extra-long post that acts as the artificial tooth root. Rather than insertion into the jawbone, as is the case with standard dental implants, the Zygomatic implants are surgically inserted into the cheekbone (zygoma), where they anchor securely and immediately. The abutment (connector) is then attached to the post, and the prosthetic teeth are secured to the abutment. Depending on the specific treatment plan, an individual may have one or two Zygomatic implants placed on each side of the upper jaw to support a full or partial set of dental bridges, which can be placed the same day.
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