ZYGOMATIC IMPLANTS
The complete absence of bone in the maxilla does not pose a problem for dental implants, which is a dentistry speciality that has found a treatment for such cases, offering patients who suffer this condition the chance to replace lost teeth and show off an attractive, functional smile.
Zygomatic implants are the solution to maxillary atrophy or the absence of maxilla bone.
Maxillary atrophy or absence of the maxilla are highly prevalent in patients who have used upper dentures for many years. Depending on the degree of atrophy, the patient may receive one type of treatment or another. For cases with more severe atrophy, zygomatic implants are an alternative that gives patients their smile back in addition to chewing capacity, with no need for bone grafting. This type of treatment is also known as dental implants without bone graft.
But what are zygomatic implants?
Zygomatic implants are titanium screws longer than conventional implants: starting from the mouth by the upper premolars, they follow a path along the lateral wall of the maxilla until they are fixed in the zygomatic bone or malar bone. The zygomatic bone is the cheekbone, which has excellent bone conditions regardless of whether or not the patient has lost all teeth years ago; for this reason, it is the perfect area to fix these screws in order to insert new teeth in cases of severe atrophy.
In turn, zygomatic implants are combined with between two and four shorter, conventional implants in the anterior maxilla area, provided bone exists in this area, and a fixed prosthesis is placed on all of these. This treatment can even be applied to patients who have a total absence of bone: in these cases two zygomatic implants are inserted on each side so fixed prostheses may be supported.
Highly complex case in which the patient had very little bone at the outset and had not smiled for three years.
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What does this treatment involve?
Although this seems a complicated procedure, this implantology technique does not require hospitalisation, but rather a local anaesthetic and conscious sedation, for which reason it can be performed at dental clinics that have the appropriate equipment. This is an option that is applied in cases of severe bone atrophy when there are no other alternatives and it must be performed by professionals with great clinical experience and an in-depth knowledge of the maxilla region’s anatomy. When well-planned and correctly developed, this is a form of surgery that does not involve risks, with little discomfort post-operation.
Given that the zygomatic is a high-quality bone, zygomatic implants can often be immediately inserted, if the patient wishes. This means that once the patient is treated, he or she can immediately start smiling again as a provisional fixed prosthesis is fitted straight after surgery. After a few months, it will be replaced by the definitive prosthesis.
What are the benefits of zygomatic implants?
At our dental clinic in Valencia, zygomatic implants allow us to ensure the patient can recover his or her quality of life by enjoying solid dentition that improves the chewing process, avoids malocclusions, regains the shape of the face and, above all, allows for a smile with a straight, full set of teeth.
This is a safe technique that has been extensively documented and recognised in scientific literature. It has been successfully applied in severe cases of maxilla bone resorption, in patients with complex dental extractions and periodontitis, and patients who have used removable dentures for many years. These are the main causes for bone resorption.
In short, this technique allows us to offer the option of a full smile to patients who were previously condemned to using uncomfortable, removable dentures that are neither aesthetically pleasing nor functional for the mouth’s natural processes, such as chewing in particular.
Other treatments:
· Cavities and endodontics
· Cosmetic dentistry
· Paediatric dentistry
· Orthodontics
· Periodontics
· Dental prosthesis
· Digital dentistry
· Sleep apnoea
Zygomatic implant testimonial
Amparo Bernardo underwent dental implant treatment. Her case was complicated as she had an atrophic upper maxilla and this significantly hindered the insertion of dental implants. Now, she can happily show off her smile.
