What are Zygomatic Implants and why are they used?
Zygomatic implants are essentially a longer, more specialised type of dental implant. The name comes from the zygomatic bone, which is commonly known as the cheekbone.
The problem solved
Traditional dental implants require a specific amount of dense bone in the jaw to fuse with (a process called osseointegration). When teeth have been missing for a long time, or following severe gum disease (periodontitis), the upper jawbone can resorb (shrink) significantly. This leaves insufficient anchor points for conventional implants. Historically, the only way to fix this was through major bone grafting, which can add months, or even a year, to the treatment timeline.
The Zygomatic solution
Zygomatic implants cleverly bypass this area of bone deficiency. They are much longer than standard implants and are strategically angled to anchor securely into the dense, strong zygomatic cheekbone instead of the atrophied upper jawbone. This approach offers two main, life-changing benefits:
- Avoids bone grafting: The complex and time-consuming process of bone grafting is often entirely eliminated.
- Immediate stability: Because the cheekbone is so dense, Zygomatic implants frequently provide exceptional stability right away, meaning your new, functional teeth can often be attached on the same day as the surgery, or very soon after.
