Zygomatic Dental Implants
At Malmquist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we specialize in a number of restorative surgeries designed to get your oral health back on track. One of our most cutting-edge surgical procedures involves the placement of zygomatic dental implants. Depending on your individual situation, zygomatic dental implants may be the ideal solution for your missing teeth.
What Are Zygomatic Dental Implants?
A conventional dental implant is a small titanium post that is anchored to the underlying jawbone. During a relatively brief healing period, the implant post fuses to your jaw, thanks to a process known as osseointegration. Osseointegration is responsible for many of the benefits associated with implant treatment.
Zygomatic implants are similar to conventional implant, with one major difference: length. As their name suggests, zygomatic implants extend all the way to an area of your jaw that consists of dense zygoma bone. The zygoma bone is found above the upper jaw, or maxilla, meaning these implants are typically used to restore teeth in the upper posterior (back) region of your mouth.
During a brief surgery, Dr. Jay P. Malmquist will make a small incision in the gum tissue to access the underlying bone. Next, we drill a small hole deep within the jaw and place the zygomatic implant in a secure position. Zygomatic implants are placed at a torqued angle in the inner aspect of the sinus wall, typically without perforating the sinus membrane.
The number of implants we recommend depends on the number of missing teeth. Once your zygomatic implants are in place, we can immediately load a temporary prosthesis, one that is prefabricated beforehand. After the implant fuses to the zygoma bone, we can remove the temporary and attach your final restoration (usually made from porcelain, zirconia, or some other ceramic compound).
Why You May Need Zygomatic Dental Implants?
Teeth in the upper posterior region of your mouth are among the hardest to restore. This area of your jaw is rarely dense and robust enough to facilitate the process of osseointegration, which requires an substantial amount of healthy bone. Whether or not we recommend zygomatic implants depends on your existing bone structure, and the location of your missing teeth.
When you lose a tooth, you lose the physical stimulation that protects your bone from atrophy. Generally speaking, zygomatic implants are reserved for patients with severe maxillary resorption. In other words, the extended length of zygomatic implants can help you qualify for implants treatment, when it would otherwise be impossible.
Benefits of Zygomatic Dental Implants
We may recommend zygomatic dental implants for a number of reasons. Benefits of zygomatic implants include:
||Treatment Qualification: Zygomatic implants make it possible for patients with severe bone deterioration to qualify for implant treatment.
||Elimination of Bone Grafts: Most zygomatic implants do not require bone grafting, including sinus lifts and ridge augmentations. This can reduce treatment times and save you a significant amount of money and discomfort.
||Improved Function and Esthetics: Zygomatic implants restore your ability to properly chew and speak again. Your natural-looking restoration can also improve the cosmetics of your smile.
||Immediate Loading: A zygomatic implant is one of the few restorative treatments that allow us to immediately load a temporary restoration. Conventional implants usually require a waiting period of 6 months to over a year due to the process of osseointegration.