What is zygoma implants?
A zygoma implant is a long dental implant anchored in the zygomatic (cheek) bone rather than the maxilla. It is used when the upper jaw has too little bone to support conventional implants. In most cases, zygoma implants can be loaded with a fixed temporary arch the same day they are placed, allowing patients to avoid years of grafting and staged surgery.
When zygoma implants are indicated
Severe resorption of the upper jaw — often after long-term denture wear, advanced periodontal disease, or trauma — can leave too little bone for conventional implants, even with sinus augmentation. Zygoma implants bypass the deficient maxilla entirely, anchoring in the dense zygomatic bone.
How treatment works
Comprehensive 3D planning begins weeks before surgery. On the day of surgery, two zygoma implants are typically placed on each side, often combined with conventional implants in the front of the jaw, and a fixed temporary arch is attached the same day. The final prosthesis is delivered after the implants have integrated.
Why patients choose this route
For patients who would otherwise face multiple grafting procedures over years before they could receive implants, zygoma implants offer a faster, less invasive path to a fixed, functional set of teeth. The technique requires advanced surgical experience and careful case selection.