Pterygoid Implants vs Zygomatic Implants?
You have a missing tooth, or even several missing teeth, and you scheduled an appointment with your dentist. Now they inform you that you do not have enough jawbone density or integrity to successfully support a traditional dental implant. In many cases, bone grafts and sinus lifts can be added to reverse the damage and add new bone height and mass. These treatments will add significant healing time to your restoration solution. However, if you do not want to add these additional procedures, you certainly might want to investigate being able to get zygomatic and pterygoid implants instead to replace your missing tooth or teeth. These unique and special implant posts can be used when you have already suffered from bone atrophy, letting you still enjoy a strong, fully functional, healthy smile again.
How Do Zygomatic and Pterygoid Dental Implants Work?
Traditional dental implants have become the new gold standard for tooth restoration. The concept is to surgically place the tiny titanium posts directly into your jawbone. As the posts bond and fuse to the jawbone they begin to function as an artificial root. Pterygoid and zygomatic implants are anchored to bones above the jawbone, which are never resorbed, meaning there is no bone loss or atrophy to worry about. Zygomatic implants integrate with the zygomatic bone that is part of your cheek, while pterygoid implants are placed in a bone that forms a part of the base of your skull. To reach both of these areas, zygomatic and pterygoid implants are considerably longer than standard dental implants; zygomatic implants are 30 to 55 mm in length, while pterygoid implants are usually 15 to 20 mm.
What are the Benefits of Zygomatic and Pterygoid Dental Implants?
If you are at the point with your dentist where your options are to proceed with a conventional bone graft to rebuild jawbone density or consider a pterygoid or zygomatic implant, here are some benefits and advantages to take into consideration as you ponder your decision. There are several advantages for both you and your practitioner, such as:
- Fewer Treatment- Using pterygoid or zygomatic dental implants will eliminate the need for sinus lifts and bone grafts to surgically place a standard implant in your jawbone to achieve success. This means you will have fewer treatments.
- Shorter Treatment Time- You will not need to spend months waiting for your standard implant posts to integrate and bond with your jawbone. Pterygoid and zygomatic dental implants are immediately stable enough for your artificial crown to be placed right away.
- Less Invasive- Compared to either sinus lifts or bone grafting, having a zygoma or pterygoid dental implant placed is a much less invasive procedure.
Are You a Candidate for Zygomatic or Pterygoid Dental Implants?
If your jawbone has indeed suffered from atrophy for any reason, you may very well be a candidate for zygomatic or pterygoid implants. Your dentist will do a thorough examination to identify the changes in your bone structure before any treatment plans are discussed.