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Zygomatic Dental Implants: What Are They And Do You Need Them?

13 September 2022

Oscar Allen

If you lost all of your upper front teeth in the past, you may want to replace them with traditional dental implants soon. But if your upper jawbone is too thin to support traditional implants, you may choose to wear upper dentures instead. You don't need to replace your teeth with dentures—you can replace your missing teeth with zygomatic dental implants. Learn more about zygomatic dental implants and how to qualify for these teeth replacements below.   

What Are Zygomatic Dental Implants?

Traditional dental implants require you to possess strong bone tissue in your upper and lower jawbones. However, tooth loss and other factors can cause a significant amount of bone loss in some individuals. The individuals may not have enough bone mass or density in their upper jawbones to support traditional implants. The individuals may qualify for zygomatic dental implants instead. 

Dentists generally insert or anchor traditional dental implants on the surface of the jawbone or directly inside the jawbone. Zygomatic dental implants anchor directly inside the cheekbones, or zygomatic bones. Unlike the bones in your jaw, which can reabsorb into the bloodstream after you lose teeth, the zygomatic bones don't recede or reabsorb into the body. The bones in your cheeks retain their mass and strength.

Zygomatic dental implants can last for a lifetime with the proper care. If you think zygomatic dental implants can replace your upper front teeth, contact a dentist today to see if you qualify.

How Do You Qualify for Zygomatic Dental Implants?

A dentist will evaluate the condition of your upper jawbone during the consultation. You may undergo several tests during the visit, including a bone mass test. The test measures the mass, height, and density of your upper jawbone. If your jaw lost a significant amount of tissue, you may qualify for zygomatic dental implants.

A provider may also check the condition of your lower jawbone during the visit. Tooth loss can cause widespread bone loss throughout your jaw. If your lower jawbone appears low in mass or density, a dentist may recommend ways to improve it. For example, a dentist may recommend you increase your calcium and vitamin D intake during the day. The nutrients can help strengthen and thicken your upper and lower jawbones. 

A dentist may schedule you for implant surgery right away. You want to replace your missing upper teeth as soon as possible to prevent additional bone loss in your jaw. 

Learn more about zygomatic dental implants by consulting a dentist today. 

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