There are some patients whose upper bone jaw has been edentulous for some time and such patients often come to our clinic with extreme bone loss in the maxillary molar regions. The maxillary alveolar ridges of such patients show severe bone resorption. This becomes a big challenge in the way of accomplishing successful fixed prosthetic rehabilitation in these patients. This is because there is inadequate bone available for good anchorage & osseointegration of titanium implants for fixed prosthesis.
In current times, the most common way of treating such patients is by doing sinus bone augmentation using bone grafting procedures by surgery to augment osseous defects.

The most effective way of bone augmentation is by using autogenous bone in grafting procedures. This is because using autogenous bone allows transfer of living osteogenic cells at the time of the graft procedure. However, this procedure has disadvantages because this procedure requires second invasive surgery on patient for autogenous bone harvesting. This not only causes increased morbidity in patients but also prolongs treatment time and causes additional expense to patient. Even after paying high cost of this treatment, it may be difficult to harvest enough autogenous bone from intra-oral sources to completely fill the bone defect.

To avoid this situation, some Surgeons like to use alternative grafting material such as processed bovine bone. This natural bone mineral derived from specially selected bovine sources is known as Bio-Oss. This has physical and chemical characteristics comparable to that of human bone mineral. Because of these properties, this material acts an excellent scaffold to promote new bone growth in the osseous defect. However, the success rate of this procedure varies widely among different Dental Surgeons. Success rate of this procedure is influenced by the fact that this procedure requires a water tight closure of bone graft site using resorbable collagen membrane to ensure healing without complications. Also, healing may take as long as 8 to 10 months when using this procedure.

Through his clinical research and experience, Dr Jonathan Penchas has mastered the latest procedure to fix this situation, which is called the Zygoma Implant procedure. This procedure presents a unique alternative for rehabilitating the patients with severely resorbed upper maxillary ridges, with only ‘one’ surgical procedure and without the need for grafting. Furthermore, the healing time is short and success rate is as high as 96.8%. Working with the best oral surgeons in the area, Dr. Penchas is able to make the process easier for the patient.

Zygoma Implant technology uses zygomatic bone as a base to provide predictable anchorage and osseointegration for the screw shaped titanium implants in patients with severely resorbed upper maxillary ridges, because zygomatic bone has dense bone quality and acceptable bone volume to provide the most predictable anchorage.

Zygoma Implants are used in conjunction with two to four conventional immediate Implant fixtures in the anterior maxilla. The Zygoma implant fixture penetrates through the maxillary sinus and anchors in the very dense zygomatic bone. The head of Zygoma implant fixture emerges in slightly palatal position in the second premolar & first molar area of the upper jaw.

Within a day of surgery performed for insertion of Zygoma Implant fixture and two to four anterior conventional Implant fixtures, a permanent implant bridge can be fixed to the implant. The result is beautiful new teeth with minimal surgical trauma and maximum oral function. And no one can tell the difference, whether it is your own natural teeth or implant fixed restoration! Zygoma Implant procedures can not be performed on patients with sinus problems. So, please make sure that your maxillary sinus is clinically symptom free & disease free before you decide to undergo Zygoma Implant procedures.