Let’s face it, when we start delving into the world of dental implants and implant rehabilitation things can get a little confusing. But don’t worry because I’ve got your back. In this post, we’re going to talk about regular dental implants and zygomatic versions.
We’re going to discuss:
- What they are
- Why they’re used
- When they’re used, and
- Their fundamental differences.
By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have a better understanding of these ground-breaking treatments and the options open to you.
So let’s dive in…
Dental Implants – The one and only original
“In the beginning, there were dental implants.” Well…1965 to be exact because this was the year that they were first placed into a human patient.
Previous to this, patients relied on tooth-supported appliances like conventional bridges and partial dentures. And while they did the job of closing smile gaps, they were (and still are) far from ideal.
Rather than relying on other teeth or oral features to support appliances, dental implants provide a standalone solution. In other words, they’re anchored directly into the jawbone at the missing tooth site.
So why is this important?
It means that adjacent teeth or anatomical structures are no longer compromised when patients need replacement teeth.
Essentially, implants consist of a lightweight titanium post or screw (the implant itself), a metal connector (the abutment) and the restoration tooth (the crown).
The implant is the part that’s anchored into the jawbone, while the abutment acts as a connector and shock absorber between the implant itself and the restoration tooth. Finally, the restoration crown is the visible ‘tooth’ that people see when you smile.
Although various aspects of the components have been enhanced over the years they technically remain the same trio of implant post, abutment and restoration tooth.
Even today, some fifty-eight years later, dental implants remain the gold standard of missing tooth replacement because of their unparalleled longevity, strength and flexibility.
If cared for properly implants can:
- last for several decades or more,
- restore near-to-full chewing capability, and
- support a single crown, several bridging teeth, or an entire arch of teeth (more about this later).
However, along with their distinct benefits come some disadvantages – the main one being that implants require sufficient quality bone to anchor into.
While this isn’t a problem in a healthy mouth, it is a significant issue for those who have been without a tooth or teeth for any length of time.
Why?
Because when we lose teeth, bone tissue that once supported the tooth root is no longer needed. Therefore, nutrients contained within the tissue are reabsorbed back into the body and redistributed elsewhere. Consequently, over a relatively short time, more and more bone tissue dies and the jaw bone starts to shrink.
But here’s the killer
During the first six months of tooth loss, the jaw loses around 25% of its entire volume. Therefore, in many cases, anyone considering dental implants will require a bone graft procedure to replace missing bone that has occurred after initial tooth loss.
Naturally, extra procedures add further time and cost to what may already be a time-consuming and expensive procedure.
In some cases, particularly in those with severely diminished bone, it isn’t possible to fit conventional dental implants at all, so the dentist may render the patient ineligible.
But what if there was a way that implants could be anchored into bone that never gets reabsorbed, bone that remains in excellent condition come what may?
Enter zygomatic implants…
In 1988, the father of dental implantology Professor Per Ingvar Brånemark came up with a solution in the form of the zygomatic implant. However, it took a further decade of clinical testing before it was available to the public.
ZIs work in the same way as conventional implants in that they’re secured directly into bone. Except this time, rather than it being the jawbone, the bone in question is the zygomatic (cheek) bone. Direct anchorage into the cheekbone ensures perfect stability irrespective of the condition of the patient’s jaw.
Another key point of difference is that if you were to hold a zygomatic implant and a conventional implant side by side, you would see that the titanium post was considerably longer for a zygomatic implant – 45-55 mm as opposed to 10 -15 mm for conventional implants.
So why is this?
Rather than anchoring into the jaw directly underneath the missing tooth site, a zygomatic implant has to follow a path down from the zygomatic bone, through the lateral wall of the maxilla and into the upper reaches of the mouth.
Naturally, ZIs require significantly more length to ensure perfect stability, which means they can only rehabilitate missing teeth in the upper jaw.
But, because the zygoma bone remains intact, a provisional set of implant-supported teeth can normally be fitted (loaded) straight after zygomatic implantation. Therefore, patients typically have the option of a full set of teeth right after surgery.
So now you know the difference between conventional dental implants and zygomatic implants the question is…
“Can they be integrated into one treatment to fully rehabilitate a patient?”
The answer is yes.
Both ZIs and conventional implants are often used in cases where full mouth or full arch rehabilitation is required and work collectively to support an arch of teeth. This entire procedure is sometimes referred to as:
- All-on-4
- All-on-6
- Full jaw dental implants, and even
- Same Day Teeth.
Having these treatment options means that patients who may have once been told they weren’t eligible for such treatment can now have a full set of long-lasting, implant-supported teeth. For some, that’s a life-changing prospect.
Dental Implants and Zygomatic Implants – The key takeaway
Essentially, dental implants and zygomatic implants carry out the same job – the replacement and rehabilitation of a missing tooth or teeth. The difference is that while dental implants are anchored into the jawbone, ZIs are secured into the zygoma (cheekbone).
While dental implants can be used to rehabilitate teeth in any part of the jaw, zygomatic implants are used in the upper jaw only. They can, however, be used in conjunction with one another to fully restore a patient’s smile, eating ability and quality of life, whatever their current oral condition.
Are you ready to consider dental implant therapy?
Get in touch with your local dentist and you never know, in several months you too could have the smile you’ve always wanted.
