What Dental Patients Should Know About Zygomatic Implants

7 July 2022
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Share

If you have been told that you are not a candidate for dental implants, a new procedure could work for you. Read on and find out more about zygomatic implants.

Implants and Bone Health

When it comes to replacing lost teeth, nothing is better than a dental implant. They are easy to care for, last for years, and create a natural look. However, traditional implants require good bone stability. Implants have titanium posts that are sunk into the patient's jawbone. To hold the implant securely, the jawbone must be strong. However, age, medication, dental problems, and medical issues can result in the loss of bone density in the jaw area.

Up until recently, the only option for such patients desiring implants was to get bone grafts. Grafting is an additional outpatient surgery, and the jaw must be fully healed before the implant can be placed. It's not unusual for the bone graft healing process to take several months and even as much as a year in some cases.

What is the Zygomatic Bone?

The zygomatic bone lies on each side of the face in the lower cheek area. This bone usually has excellent strength and density, so it makes an ideal spot for the implant post. With zygomatic implants, the post of the implant goes into the zygomatic bone rather than the jawbone for those with weak jawbones. The zygomatic implant process is only available for those needing implants on their upper teeth, however.

What Else to Know

Zygomatic implants are often performed under general anesthesia. Traditional implants may also be performed under general anesthesia, but some patients opt for numbing shots and relaxation meds instead. During the surgery, you will be completely asleep as the surgery is being performed. In most cases, patients experience very little discomfort upon waking up, but prescription pain relief may be used if needed.

Traditional implants and zygomatic implant surgery are usually the same when it comes to recovery issues. However, the outer appearance of post-surgery bruising can vary in location. Some patients notice mild bruising beneath the eyes with zygomatic implants whereas traditional implants might produce bruising on the jaws and cheeks.

Instead of having to wait for your jawbone graft to heal, you can get started on your zygomatic implant immediately and be enjoying beautiful new teeth in no time at all. To find out more about this unique type of implant, speak to your dentist about dental implants today.