Zygomatic implants in Tijuana: when you are told there is not enough bone

What zygomatic implants are

A regular implant is a short post placed in the jawbone where a tooth used to be. A zygomatic implant is a much longer implant. It is placed at an angle from the upper jaw up into the zygomatic bone, the cheekbone, and anchors there.

They are an upper-jaw treatment. They are usually part of a fixed full arch of upper teeth, often combined with regular implants in the front of the jaw if there is enough bone there.

“No bone implants” is a marketing phrase, not a medical term. A zygomatic implant still needs bone. It uses bone in a different place.

When they are used

The upper jaw can lose a lot of bone after years without teeth, after gum disease, or after earlier implants or bone grafts did not work. When the bone is too thin or too short for regular implants, the usual choices are:

• Bone grafting or a sinus lift first, then implants once the graft has healed. This usually means more surgery and more waiting.
• Graftless options that use the bone you still have, such as tilted implants in an All-on-4 style plan, shorter implants, or, in some cases, zygomatic implants.
• A removable denture, with or without implants.

An international consensus report from the ITI (International Team for Implantology) says zygomatic implants are mainly indicated when the upper jaw has severe bone loss or is missing bone. It also lists failed earlier implants or grafts, and patients who do not want a bone graft. The same report calls them a complex treatment whose results depend heavily on the clinician’s skill and experience. It lists sinus problems as a commonly reported complication, and says these implants may need more professional maintenance over time. ITI consensus report, International Journal of Implant Dentistry (2023)

So a zygomatic implant is one option, not a default. Which route fits your jaw is decided from an exam and a 3D scan, not from an ad. If you are comparing zygomatic implants in Mexico, compare the written plans, not the ads.

1. Ask for a CBCT 3D scan, and to see it

A panoramic X-ray is a flat picture. It does not show bone width or the cheekbone in 3D. The ITI report recommends a CT or CBCT that includes the midface, so the team can check bone in the upper jaw and cheekbone and the health of the sinuses.

• Is the CBCT taken on site, before the surgery day?
• Does the scan include the cheekbones and the sinuses?
• Will the surgeon walk you through it and show why regular implants or a graft are or are not an option?
• Can you get a copy of the scan files for your records and for your dentist at home?

Tell the team about any sinus problems you have had. More on the scan: CBCT before implants.

2. Ask about the surgeon’s zygomatic experience

General implant experience is not the same as zygomatic experience. Ask specific questions and get the answers in writing:

• Who will place the zygomatic implants? Name and specialty.
• How often does this surgeon place zygomatic implants, and for how long have they been doing it?
• Who designs and makes the teeth on top, and are they involved before surgery?
• What is the plan if a zygomatic implant does not heal in, or if a sinus problem shows up after you are home?
• What anesthesia or sedation is planned, and where is the surgery done?

Clear, specific answers are a good sign. Vague answers are a reason to slow down.

3. Ask for the implant brand on the treatment plan

Zygomatic implants are specific products made by specific manufacturers. The written plan should name:

• The manufacturer and product line of the zygomatic implants.
• The manufacturer and product line of any regular implants in the same plan.
• The material of the provisional teeth and of the final teeth, on separate lines.
• Implant stickers or cards for your records after surgery.

The US FDA also tells patients to ask which brand and model of implant system is used and to keep that information for their records. FDA: Dental Implants, What You Should Know. More: implant brand on the paper.

4. Ask for a visit and trip plan

Zygomatic cases are not a one-visit job. Ask the clinic to write down:

• Each visit: consultation and scan, surgery, provisional teeth, final teeth, and check-ups.
• How many days to plan in Tijuana for each visit, and the expected weeks or months between visits.
• Whether you need a companion and a ride after sedation. Do not plan to drive yourself.
• Who you contact if you have pain, swelling or sinus symptoms once you are back in the US, and who can see you near home.

The All-on-4 quote checklist covers the rest of what a full-arch plan should list.

Does Olive Dental Solutions offer zygomatic implants?

Olive’s own All-on-4 page says: “For severe bone loss, we offer All-on-6, Zygomatic implants, or bone grafting. We determine this via a 3D CBCT scan.” Olive Dental Solutions, All-on-4 page

That is Olive’s published statement. It does not tell you whether zygomatic implants fit your case. Only an exam and a scan can. If you contact Olive, ask for the four points above in writing: the CBCT, who places the implants, the implant brand, and the visit plan.

What we will not claim here

• No success figures and no fee tables.
• No claim that you are a candidate. That takes an exam and a 3D scan.
• No claim that any implant works without bone.

FAQ

What are zygomatic implants?

They are long dental implants that anchor in the cheekbone (the zygomatic bone) instead of only in the upper jaw. They are used to support upper teeth when the upper jaw has too little bone for regular implants.

Are zygomatic implants really “no bone” implants?

No. They still need bone. They anchor in the cheekbone instead of the thin bone of the upper jaw, which can let some patients avoid a bone graft. Whether that applies to you depends on a 3D scan and an exam.

Can zygomatic implants be used in the lower jaw?

No. They are an upper-jaw treatment. Bone loss in the lower jaw is handled with other options that a dentist can explain after an exam.

Do I need a CBCT scan before zygomatic implants?

Yes. Planning needs a 3D image (CT or CBCT) that shows the upper jaw, the cheekbones and the sinuses. Ask to review it with the surgeon and to get a copy for your records.

How many trips to Tijuana does it take?

It depends on the plan. Ask the clinic to write down each visit (consultation and scan, surgery, provisional teeth, final teeth) and the expected time between them.

Does Olive Dental Solutions offer zygomatic implants?

Olive’s own All-on-4 page lists zygomatic implants as one of its options for severe bone loss, decided with a 3D CBCT scan. Only an exam and a scan can tell whether they fit your case.

Sources

• Al-Nawas B, et al. ITI consensus report on zygomatic implants: indications, evaluation of surgical techniques and long-term treatment outcomes. International Journal of Implant Dentistry, 2023. PMC10497463
• US Food and Drug Administration. Dental Implants: What You Should Know. fda.gov
• Olive Dental Solutions, All-on-4 Dental Implants in Tijuana (clinic page). olivedentalsolutions.com

Read also (in Spanish): Implantes cigomáticos y pterigoideos