Zygomatic Implants for Patients Who Cannot Undergo Bone Grafting
You’ve visited the best clinics in Istanbul. Perhaps in Nişantaşı, perhaps in Kadıköy, you’ve consulted with many doctors and heard the same, disheartening sentence from all of them: “Your upper jawbone has completely resorbed; you cannot have implants. You will have to use dentures for the rest of your life.”
This sentence is a difficult statement to accept for someone who has an active social life, loves to eat, and wants to maintain their self-confidence. However, in modern medicine, the word “impossible” is becoming increasingly rare. If even bone grafts or sinus lifting operations are not a solution for you, then Zygomatic Implants, known as the space technology of dentistry, come into play.
Problem: Atrophic Maxilla (Resorbed Upper Jaw)
After teeth are extracted, the alveolar bone holding them resorbs over time. In some patients, this resorption is so severe (atrophy) that there is not even “a paper-thin” bone left in the upper jaw to screw in an implant.
The traditional solution is to take bone from the patient’s hip and transplant it to the jaw (Box Technique) or to fill the sinus cavities with bone powder (Sinus Lifting). However, these procedures:
- Take approximately 1 – 1.5 years.
- Require multiple surgeries.
- The success rate is not always 100%, bone resorption may occur.
At this point, Zygoma Implants are the single strongest alternative for patients who cannot undergo bone grafting or do not want to wait for this long process.
Solution: What is a Zygoma (Cheekbone) Implant?
Zygoma implants are much longer than standard dental implants. While standard implants are 8-12 mm, zygoma implants are 30-55 mm long.
These implants are placed not in the upper jawbone inside the mouth, which has resorbed, but in the “zygoma” (cheekbone), which is the hardest and never-resorbs bone in our face. They start from inside the mouth, pass by the side of the sinus cavity, and are embedded in the cheekbone. In this way, even in a patient with no jawbone, fixed teeth can be made using the incredible strength taken from the cheekbone.
💀 Why the Cheekbone?
The zygomatic bone (cheekbone) is, by its nature, a very dense (cortical) bone. Even if you age or lose your teeth, this bone does not resorb. This density ensures very high retention (primary stability) even at the moment of implant placement. This allows us to fit the patient a fixed tooth on the same day.
Quad Zygoma: The Most Advanced Level
In some patients, bone loss is so advanced that there is no bone left even in the front. In this case, two zygoma implants are placed on each side, for a total of 4 implants. This is called “Quad Zygoma”. This procedure is the pinnacle of dental surgery and in Istanbul, it is performed only by Oral Surgeons specializing in this field, in fully equipped clinics or hospitals.
Advantages of Zygoma Implants
Why is Zygoma preferred instead of difficult bone graft surgeries?
- 1. No Graft (Bone Powder) Required
There is no need to take bone from another part of the body or use artificial bone powders. The patient’s own cheekbone is used. - 2. Time Advantage (Time Saving)
While it takes 12-18 months to place teeth in bone powder procedures, fixed teeth are placed within 3 days with zygoma implants. - 3. Immediate Loading
Because the cheekbone is very hard, the implants start bearing weight immediately. The patient is not toothless when they leave the operation. - 4. High Success Rate
In long-term studies, the success rate of zygoma implants has been reported as 96-98%. This is a miraculous rate for patients with advanced bone loss.
Great Comparison: Zygoma vs. Bone Graft (Sinus Lift)
Technical details to help you decide:
| Features | Traditional Bone Graft / Sinus Lift | Zygoma Implant Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Total Treatment Time | 12 – 18 Months (Long waiting times) | 3 – 5 Days (Tooth is fitted immediately) |
| Number of Surgeries | Multiple Surgeries (Bone first, then implant) | Single Surgery (All the same) |
| Success Rate | May not hold bone (80-90%) | Very High (96-98%) |
| Comfort | Long-term edentulousness or removable prosthesis | Immediate fixed tooth comfort |
Operation Process in Istanbul: Safety and Anesthesia
Zygoma implant,It’s not like a standard tooth extraction. It’s an advanced surgical procedure. Istanbul is home to some of Europe’s most experienced surgeons in this field. The process is generally carried out according to the following standards:
Comfort Under General Anesthesia
In top-tier clinics in Istanbul, zygoma surgeries are performed not with local anesthesia, but under General Anesthesia in fully equipped operating rooms. The patient is completely asleep, feels nothing, and remembers nothing. When they wake up, the procedure is finished. This is the gold standard for both the patient’s comfort and the surgeon’s ability to work precisely.
📍 Istanbul: The Center of Zygoma Surgery
In many countries around the world (England, Canada, etc.), the number of surgeons who can perform this operation is very small, and the costs are astronomical. Istanbul has become the number one destination for zygoma implants in medical tourism thanks to its extensive case experience and technological infrastructure (3D Tomography, Digital Planning). Patients from Europe receive teeth in Istanbul within a week that were deemed “impossible” in their own countries.
Are There Complications and Risks?
Like any surgery, there are risks. However, these risks are minimized with proper planning and 3D tomography.
- Sinusitis: Since the implant passes near the sinus, temporary sinus problems may occur.
- Temporary Numbness: Temporary numbness in the cheek area may rarely occur.
These risks are reduced to almost zero with proper planning by experienced Oral Surgeons in Istanbul.
Conclusion: Don’t Despair
A diagnosis of “no bone” does not mean you will be left without teeth. Zygoma implants are the second best chance modern medicine offers patients. Without undergoing difficult procedures like hip bone harvesting, you can achieve stable, aesthetic, and functional teeth by utilizing the strength of your cheekbone.
At our Istanbul-based clinic, with our “All-on-4 Zygoma” concept, we bring even the most challenging cases back to life with a smile. If you’ve been told “impossible,” you haven’t yet met zygoma implants.
