Have you been told you have severe bone loss and aren’t a suitable candidate for traditional dental implants?
If so, zygomatic dental implants from Marylebone Implant Centre are likely a suitable solution to help you restore your smile.
Why not get in touch to see if zygomatic implant procedures can help you?
Zygomatic implant surgery – how is it done?
Most dental implants are fitted into the jawbone, but if the patient lacks the bone levels needed, implantologists need to find a different way to tether the implant.
With zygomatic implants, the implants are fitted into the zygomatic bone – conventionally referred to as the cheekbone – rather than the jawbone.
This more advanced implant placement makes dental implants possible for more people, especially those with low bone levels who would otherwise have to consider bone grafting.
The implant fitting process can usually be carried out by dental specialists in just two appointments after your initial consultation.
Preparing for zygomatic implants London:
Before your zygomatic implants can be fitted, you will need scans and thorough checks to give our expert implantologists the information they need to place your implants successfully.
These scans are not normally completed on the same day as your zygomatic implants, as the information they garner will be used to form your bespoke treatment plan but speak to our team if you need to know more.
Placing your zygomatic implants:
On surgery day, our experienced dentists will place the zygomatic implants into the zygomatic arch, using your scans and treatment plan as a blueprint.
Once healed, this gives a permanent and secure fixing point for a bridge, individual dental implant placement, or a full-jaw prosthesis, depending on the needs of the patient.
How long do zygomatic implants last?
With proper care and good dental hygiene, zygomatic implants can last a lifetime.
Though this can differ from patient to patient, with careful maintenance, you can retain your restored smile for years to come!
How many zygomatic implants for the upper jaw?
Before zygomatic implant surgery, your dental specialist will carefully consult scans and imagery of your mouth to plan how many implants you will need.
For most people, upper jawbone implants will include between two and four regular dental implants with a further one or two zygomatic implants, but this will differ patient-by-patient depending on their bone availability.
As part of your implant consultation, you can discuss how many implants will be used and roughly where they will be positioned in the upper jawbone so you can be sure before you go ahead
Zygomatic implants London – what is the success rate?
As with all dental implant procedures, the success rate of zygomatic implant surgery is vastly affected by aftercare and proper maintenance.
But are zygomatic implants successful overall?
Multiple well-respected and peer-reviewed studies have been conducted across the globe, offering an average success rate of around 94.9% after a follow-up period of 3.1 years.
This is based on a total of 6,628 individual implants in 2,913 patients.
Other studies have found success rates of:
- 100% after 6-year follow-ups (Parel et al.)
- 100% after a 34-month follow-up (Bedrossian et al.)
- 97.9% after a 12-month follow-up (Hirsch et al.)
- 90.3% after a 46-month follow-up (Becktor et al.)
This incredibly high success rate means that zygomatic implants, despite their specialist nature, are as successful as other traditional dental implants – even in patients with bone loss in the upper jaw and without the need for bone grafting.
Why is it harder to fit a dental implant in the zygoma?
Zygomatic implants aren’t offered by all clinics that can fit traditional dental implants as they are considered a specialist treatment option.
This means only a specialist team with an experienced oral surgeon can ensure successful placement of the implant in the zygomatic arch.
The reasons for this are:
- Possible damage to the maxillary sinus
Precise and careful placement in the zygomatic bone is essential for a strong and sturdy final restoration. However, this is much harder due to the location of the maxillary sinus, which is positioned just behind the cheekbone.
The presence of this structure means that most patients will also need to consider a sinus lift, which allows for the careful movement of the sinus lining so it is not pierced or damaged by the dental implant, and bone grafting to fill in the area left behind.
- Insufficient bone for implant placement
If you have low bone density in the upper jaw, implant placement in the zygomatic bone can negate this issue completely.
Instead of performing a bone graft on the upper jaw, placement in the zygomatic arch can make immediate dental implant placement a possibility.
Though necessary for some, sinus lifting and bone graft procedures in the upper jaw contribute to a further healing period and extra associated costs – all of which make fitting the final restoration a longer process.
Interested in what zygomatic implants offer? Why not contact the team today?
Are zygomatic implants the same as pterygoid implants?
Zygomatic implants and pterygoid implants have many similarities, including:
- Usage – both are solely used for upper arch rehabilitation in patients with significant bone loss
- Design – they both use longer implants placed at an angle rather than vertically
- Procedure availability – not all providers of traditional implants offer such treatment
- Economy – bone graft procedures are not normally needed with either
However, they also differ, as they are implanted into different bones.
Zygomatic implants are placed into the zygomatic bone – also called the cheekbone or zygoma – while pterygoid implants are fitted into the junction between the maxillary bone (of the upper jawbone) and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone.
To find out more, please speak to our experienced dentists, who can use images, scans, and diagrams to clearly explain the procedure from start to finish.
ZYGOMATIC IMPLANT CONSULTATION TODAY
Contact us today to book an appointment if you have been referred to as one of the “complex cases” unsuitable for conventional implants because of your oral health or bone condition.
Our experienced dentist team will aim to get back to you on the same day and advise if they can provide support for you to access a dental implant procedure.
You can call us on 020 3285 6143 or fill in the contact form at the bottom of your screen.
Zygomatic implant cost
Thanks to their advanced design and placement, it is important to be aware that zygomatic implants do cost more than their standard counterparts.
To find out more about the possible zygomatic implant cost, please refer to our fees page or contact us today to book an appointment – after which we can give you a bespoke quote based on your anatomical landmarks and treatment goals.
Why choose MIC for zygomatic dental implants?
Marylebone Implant Centre has decades of experience restoring the smile and bite of patients with dental implants – using both conventional dental implants and specialist zygomatic implant placement. Learn more about the types of dental implants we offer at Marylebone Implant Centre.
So, if you need dental implants but have low bone levels or a medical condition that affects your bone density, the dental specialists at Marylebone Implant Centre can help.
To find out more, you can call us on 020 3285 6144 or email our team and we’ll be in touch with an appointment that suits you best.
Zygomatic implants before and after
To get an idea of how zygomatic implants can help you, even if you don’t have sufficient bone and have been turned away for conventional dental implant treatments, why not browse our patient smile gallery?
Zygomatic Implants FAQs
Zygomatic implants vs bone graft – which is best?
For patients looking for zygomatic implants in London, it can be easy to conflate treatments and wonder which is best – especially if your treatment options are limited by severe bone loss.
However, implants in the zygomatic arch are considered primarily when a patient has been told they must have bone grafting to fit upper arch implants – so it is the best option of the two by a country mile. This is because dental implants in the zygomatic region:
- Removes the need for bone grafting – saving the patient healing time and money
- Saves the extra anaesthetic use
- Allows for the immediate placement of a prosthesis – restoring the smile on surgery day (when appropriate)
For more information on which solution is best for you, contact the experts at Marylebone Implant Centre. You can call us on 020 3434 2934 or fill in the contact form at the bottom of your screen and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
Are zygomatic implants safe?
Worried dental implant placement in the zygomatic bone could be harmful?
Luckily for you, our expert implantologists at MIC are experienced enough to offer specialist implant solutions in this complex and undertreated area.
If fitted by inexperienced dentists, zygomatic dental implants can cause:
- Temporary sensory nerve deficits
- Orbital (eye socket) penetration and injury
- Sinusitis
- Moderate nasal bleeding
- Problems and difficulty with speech and oral hygiene
To ensure these complications don’t occur we carry out detailed CBCT scans and make thorough observations of each patient’s anatomy to ensure the implants are placed without error.
If you have more questions about the implant process in the zygomatic region, reach out to us today to get those questions answered. You can email us or give our friendly team a call so we can set your mind at ease.
Zygomatic implants – lower jaw applications?
Based on current research and applications, it isn’t possible to use zygomatic treatment in the lower jaw.
The implants have been specifically designed to anchor a fixed prosthetic into the zygomatic bone – also called the cheekbone – if the upper jawbone lacks bone stability or quantity.
If you have insufficient bone in the lower jaw, you will need to consider an alternative treatment that restores bone levels and adds implants.
To discuss your options or arrange a dental implant consultation, fill in the contact form at the bottom of this page or give us a call on 020 3434 2934.
Are zygomatic implants covered by insurance?
For the most part, dental implants are not often covered by insurers as they’re often considered as a cosmetic procedure.
There are, however, a small handful of providers who are recognising their beneficial properties to replace missing teeth and now offer them as part of dental insurance.
To ensure this covers you, we recommend carefully reading all policy documents and speaking to a representative before you purchase the policy.
If you have taken out the cover and then realised it doesn’t apply, check the date you signed the contract – you may be able to cancel it as part of a 14-day cooling-off period.
To find out more about paying for zygomatic or traditional implants, you can call us on 020 3434 2934 or browse our fees page.